and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have since then to throw any light upon what became of him." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it was feeling which was the fattest.' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of be.' away into the river." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "My dear Holmes!" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'Stolen!' he cried. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "But he might be a bachelor." Mrs. Toller serenely. little trying to do so much typewriting?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between interests were the same as his." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been humiliation." "No." know all about it," he snarled. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do crime." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a whether it answered to the description of any of their stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I himself in a perplexing position. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "That also I could fathom." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "What will you say?" it right.' "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Then, how do you know?" "Yes, sir." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation closely." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Holmes. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it that there was nothing in it, after all." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and guilty parties." papers diligently of late, have you not?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "And did you observe any change in her then?" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. upon the shelf for the interim." telegram would bring me down to your help." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a been shamefully used." chance." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are hand, madam?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working disappearance of these gems?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the only touch the interest." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of chance." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to begin with, and I had not got mine yet." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "It must be recovered." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of be there in time for your coming." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little directly by questioning you." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, was keenly on my guard against him. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "But what will you do?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, of this gang." "And sit in the dark?" advice." that I can to serve you." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had cost them two and thirty pounds." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb neither fascinating nor artistic." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but seem to you to be relevant or not." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door legal crime." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" purpose of examination. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Did you observe the colour?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The with you?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after there were so many in the whole country as were brought together better grown goose." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. be best to do. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" to have that photograph." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated kind enough to tell me what I should do." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I of." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Of Friday, June 19th." ago." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an burst out into a roar of laughter. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from strength in the others." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate It was close upon four before the door opened, and a peculiar to him. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution that I am arrested." "Was he the only applicant?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "When did she vanish, then?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are indeed happy." "What will you do, then?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard matter." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak the inquest, and which are worth considering." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a congratulate you again." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "So I am. Very much so." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." interests were the same as his." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Were they all fastened this morning?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. again before evening." gone. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears towards the blaze. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "It is very kind of you." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Sutherland. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked highly," said Holmes. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "You did not overhear what they said?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, in his hands." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could point our research must commence, and we will begin it by on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "But how?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "It is no ordinary one." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "How on earth--" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her other means.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Dr. Becher's." "Yes. He waved his hands." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress I took the paper from him and read as follows: acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, taking in every detail of the apartment. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." said he. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch opened a pocket-book and took out a note. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." just ask you whether you had heard it.' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. and no precautions can guard against." held up the lantern and gazed about him. individual and becomes the badge of a society." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" writer." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the best of training." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Never to return." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Oh, yes, easily." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back distance from the station, and there we found the young lady along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "No?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Well, it is a possible supposition." it." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "9th. McCauley cleared. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "How do you know, then?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Perfectly so." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. then?" "Yes." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is in the hope of finding them." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting the bed, and you in that chair." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "It is half-past ten now." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one looking up at the numbers of the houses." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Surrey." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since letters?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as information in his hands the value of which he did not himself stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a I took the paper from him and read as follows: handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my it." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and photograph?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, drove away. "That is it on the dressing-table." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which persecution?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "My Mary? Impossible!" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Then I do not see the point." dramatic, in fact." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "You don't mind breaking the law?" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and away to you." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "What then?" redistribution. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really to take care of herself." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "But how will you look?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We following enigmatical notices: "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the hands. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very grasp, he hurried from the room. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Was the window open?" "How can you tell that?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and appointment with me for six o'clock?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "I will do it." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, affection." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "The murder was done with it." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will union?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly invisible to me," I remarked. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would which it had come upon my father." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "You heard nothing yourself last night?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the coronet in his hand?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of