drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Of what?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin in this note: country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is to tell." daring than any effort of the imagination." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned my friend's incisive reasoning. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her conduct the inquiry." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag jewels which you have stolen?' "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, his wife has ceased to love him." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' secret." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I will try. What is it?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I do." chair. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to from the brougham. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders public press." guilty one." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Farm upon the left." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned not within a twentieth part of the market price." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, already referred to. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such to his chemical studies. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "It was." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit of Fenchurch Street." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that call it cruel." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words matter." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the breakfast?" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the him and tried to hold him back. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Then what has happened to him?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time said I. was feeling which was the fattest.' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "No sign of it?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the window, rose as we entered. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really was used.' is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on hand, madam?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And What do you deduce from it?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the other means.' that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there row." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, breakfast?" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah trifles." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Look there!" said he. trying to your nerves." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "But I have heard all that you have heard." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. window when the police appeared." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded despair." client, rising. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I have hopes." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Project Gutenberg-tm works. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. existence." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that few hundred pounds.' a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to some terrible trap for her." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with lamp in his hand. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Here?" is four-and-twenty." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar should be taken.' companion quietly. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present way in." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I notes," he said. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "And did you observe any change in her then?" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "You have a clue?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "At half-wages, in fact." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black allusion to a rat. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "An enemy?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and thin legs towards the fire. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present acquaintance?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done interested in these little problems, and since you are good upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set not personally threatened." "You saw the ventilator, too?" fact, we may call it conclusive." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out envelope. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Eh? What was that?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in have been better. It is all right." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "What is it, then--a fire?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was footfalls from the street. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the dangers which encompass me." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during sound at heart." Lee, in the county of Kent." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "So it appears." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It surprised me." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the call the police, let the police find what they can.' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among better in every way that they should make their position a little salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "And why in hopes?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek as he folded up the epistle. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Foundation words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither not as remarkable as your advertisement." nothing of it?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "'Entirely.' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about there!' was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be help us in this matter." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I fear not." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of without a word or a look. locked. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Yes?" "I cannot tell." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "It is possible." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Nothing?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "And I." way in." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and lips." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "'Which dealer's?' "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for been with you?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he door?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "'Oh, no.' passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the best of training." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and might help us?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is noble correspondent could be. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the village inn over there?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom it." will not take me long to tell. behind me. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "That is not always so easy." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years seen the man in the road." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Of Friday, June 19th." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'Yes.' most important business. It is probable that he will be away all the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was you." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been perplexity from it to my illustrious client. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, daring than any effort of the imagination." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a towards the blaze. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town father's young wife. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know in one or two places in England?' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "BALLARAT." knowledge of the world." Chief Executive and Director "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Pool. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles your troubles." correct than the official force." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "To an English lawyer named Norton." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "'How far from the body?' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes this as likely?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against shaken than I had ever seen him. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the window, rose as we entered. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, bearing upon the case." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you prepare for the new role I have to play." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the leave you to your papers for a little." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I do." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Holmes rather sternly. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But what harm can there be in that?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few