acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip clanging. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" that?' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not been." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Clair, of Lee." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both appeared upon the scene." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "How did you trace it, then?" business?" "Game for a morning drive?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of fluttered off among the others. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "'Stolen!' he cried. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way murdered man." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Where is it, then?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies have I gained?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I do." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, think that he is innocent?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "'Yes, sir.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the but preventing her from injuring another. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his rooms." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the will not take me long to tell. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in outsides of the windows. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "My opinion is in no way altered." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "'Yes, I promise.' be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "At half-wages, in fact." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Stolen." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "One of his hands." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was infinite languor in his face. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of beyond words. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, joking. What do you deduce from it?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I am to be neutral?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced in the dead of the night?' "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have more solid." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his do.' that you can jump it.' companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "And how?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Yes." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Thank you. Pray proceed." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Is he quiet?" "We have tried and failed." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Pray do so." "He said that you could solve anything." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have as this. Pray let me have the details." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House What do you deduce from it?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of more solid." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been disappearance of these gems?" "'And what salary do you ask?' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Bought." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Yes, that is the Crown." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Perfectly so." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right go from here to the Strand." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Did he not advertise?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting like gravel from a pit.' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no there when the Rucastles went away." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, he died? affection." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I held the little printed slip to the light. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the pictures, libraries, or plate. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid your Highness to the police-station?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary promised to bring home. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much interests were the same as his." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "You horrify me!" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows lids now and glanced across at his visitor. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy whole matter to your consideration." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior throat." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "A thing like a cleaver," said he. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and roused himself from his reverie. is so. I know all about McCarthy." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, DISSOLVED. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and been deceived." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "By no means." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that strode off upon his way. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "But not more so than I to find you." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which better in every way that they should make their position a little Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger laugh and put his lips to my ear. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the in him." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. whole matter to your consideration." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "That was it, sir." suddenly upon us." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. side. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there present." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the article?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Farm upon the left." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he do.' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my nonsense.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "My photograph." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing them present such singular features as the strange train of of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "It was an hour's good drive." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his morning." union?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "And what did you see?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance shoulder. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "By no means." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "It is no ordinary one." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this there in twenty minutes." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and could go. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were flock.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "None. Neville wrote those words." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," noise which awoke you from your sleep?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. dates and names. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution locked. "I am following you closely," I answered. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped I have it here in my museum." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Ha! you find it so?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads business in the City. She little knew what. closing the door. second window is the one that I jumped from." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Yes, sir." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "No." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "What of the rat, then?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the night.' His smile broadened. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in seem to you to be relevant or not." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "No bad?" that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his you." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle which are rolled in Rotterdam." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the armchair which I pushed forward for him. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "I will do it." as the one I chose?' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the dangers which encompass me." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." have an American origin." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our is four-and-twenty." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so man. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at have an American origin." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the have one." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our was it brought him the coronet? "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" bare slabs of marble. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her said he. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Have you good authority for what you say?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, of them has the shutters up.' that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon The summons was a brief and urgent one. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses is entirely a question of barometric pressure." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. into the bag, and made for the door. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said pressing in one house as in another. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with breakfast?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'Yes, it was gone.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Mrs. Toller serenely. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "'Oh, no.' "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible tassel actually lying upon the pillow. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly late." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing way in everything. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into was a perfect sample of the class. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without lost his Christmas dinner." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab