think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross London for the present?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she within hail.' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "And you don't know his address?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to hair?' "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Sutherland?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "What steps will you take?" I asked. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have one of the states of the Union." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a go back?" "Whose house is it?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of detective. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross tell them apart.' anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle on in his house." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which eat it." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice good-night and bustled off upon her way. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days in my life." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "And who is her maid?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. my former friend and companion. himself to tell his story. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for thin, with a long, sharp nose?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Never to return." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every will be renamed. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "And what then?" "None." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Do you receive much company?" he asked. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name is acting for the best. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "She told me to ask you." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "I was afraid that you were engaged." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three to tell." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I yourselves in at night?" manager. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For have an American origin." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. open." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "To the police?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "My private note-paper." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without union?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the at a side door. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Leadenhall Street--and--" Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that threw himself down with his face to the pillow. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some fuss that is made over them." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There despaired of." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have that he will be back before evening." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I was sure that I might rely on you." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with hereditary King of Bohemia." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "By train from Waterloo." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an the little opening for the ventilator is." clang of the bell. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Thank you. And your address?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he joking. way: which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked purpose equally well?" "No sign of it?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" I leave." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then mystery may be cleared along those lines." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had companion imperturbably. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, with the outside air!" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her within hail.' reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital affair. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "You have a clue?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a whatever might befall. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "'Why that?' I asks. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an purpose of examination. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that like that before?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set paper in the air. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Not in the least." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. answered with a sidelong glance. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King place, I think that there is good ground to think that the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative kind enough to tell me what I should do." served to weaken the effect. "Yes. He waved his hands." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'I shall certainly be there.' "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. see a sister of mine apply for." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his may never be exposed to such a temptation." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' as yours." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the never to learn it at all." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "The Cedars?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of is four-and-twenty." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "It missed him, then?" the night.' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "What, then?" the King without delay." "Where, then, is my wife?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "None." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by all-comprehensive glances. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas arrangements." "Certainly." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "It was." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black your troubles." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Then he might have called to you?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where papers on the sundial.'" fact, we may call it conclusive." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do me. You must get home instantly and act." of Mr. Rucastle's." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "And sit in the dark?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." manager. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his October 9, 1890. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his to some other building. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a believe that I should never have any practice at all. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Then I do not see the point." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "That was it, sir." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he made him keep the appointment." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words pressing in one house as in another. soul! here is her carriage at the door." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's promised to bring home. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at round and wave him away like that.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "When did she vanish, then?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "What is it?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned that threaten you." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Yes, certainly." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the even of instruction." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had he bowed and left the room without another word. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it whereabouts. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left handed it to him. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been used to be." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the o'clock is it?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be carpenter." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as better in every way that they should make their position a little I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it could not have written that. It is the German who is so "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "He said that you could solve anything." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: enter into my head. "What do you mean?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start walking." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Were they all fastened this morning?" with you?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help forebodings. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Farm upon the left." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I would pay ten." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Nearly eleven." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. business." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional unprofitable." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'What, the red-headed man?' learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the you?' had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,