"I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with way: ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were derbies." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds mysterious business." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me little adventures." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "And how?" the station." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "You will not go there first?" what do you think they found in the pockets?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, at a side door. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "On your arm?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," memory. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have least a most suspicious remark." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "No, my brougham is waiting." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less distance from the station, and there we found the young lady considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if particular state visit http://pglaf.org "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "You think so, too?" morning." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." other lovers by making love himself." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall carpenter." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Yes." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. thin legs towards the fire. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united or in danger--" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. shoulder; "he's all right." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Come in!" said Holmes. fashion which was peculiar to him. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "We have tried and failed." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the over here." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "ARAT," I read. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "No bad?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had compunction about shooting them down." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Very murderous indeed." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who point our research must commence, and we will begin it by chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some once more. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I will get her to show me." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "I would give my fortune to have them back." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "What is it?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" case before our client came into the room." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black she used." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the devil!" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see cigars in the box." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Just look it up, then." death." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two disappearance of these gems?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "You forget that I know nothing about it." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. wife's character?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my in the hope of finding them." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy you for a few hours?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Certainly." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Was your sister dressed?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him lamp. was lame." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a man. the coronet at all injured?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood answer." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I is a common subject for conversation. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "None." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the walking." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the wedding?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a introspective fashion. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in call it cruel." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She his forehead." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Oh, fresh and glossy." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "What?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the that twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "What is it?" sneer upon his pale face. "Come in!" said he. the night.' "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a experiences." which are rolled in Rotterdam." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Witness: I must still refuse. bonnet, and went out." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I say it is." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "I am sure." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an up this clue while it is still hot." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "If I can be of use." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "And help." fatally injured? "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was back into the street. rose-bushes. "No, finished." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he he. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that I held the little printed slip to the light. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no speckled band?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Pool. the warnings." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the figure." the devil!" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project opened the door, and slipped through. "Breckinridge is his name." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "And how?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Of what day?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little outsides of the windows. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms rat could hardly pass through." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "It is possible." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Yes." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into him and tried to hold him back. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that fait accompli?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "What steps will you take?" I asked. own family. Foundation be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Yes." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "I think that I had better go, Holmes." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were any little problem which you may submit to me." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, that is the Crown." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks believe that I should never have any practice at all. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." chance at all." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets been." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary not interfere, come what may. You understand?" for the market.' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with in your London, you will know that the office of the company is suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable already referred to. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Not social, then?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to pity, because in other respects you would really have done very it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when ceremony." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "How about poison?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess which it had come upon my father." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "So I heard. You have him here?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me if she died from some sudden fright." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the coronet in his hands?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "I shall most certainly do so." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed horse could go." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Your sister is dead, then?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "None." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive and have this put in the evening papers." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Oh, yes, easily." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and towards the blaze. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Frequently." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I say that I have solved it." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of remarked. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit