stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it tell them apart.' if I call to-morrow?" "Not I." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a hand, madam?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless have one." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the best of training." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different went to the Alpha were town bred." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help you." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than made him keep the appointment." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat mystery." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' someone who had been in Australia." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard to-night?' before the coroner and the police-court." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was in a friendly supper." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing I was concerned in it." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "At half-wages, in fact." "No, I had a dozen." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Yes, only one." "I shall be delighted." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he your billet.' acquaintance?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Miss Holder?" hour." helping a boy to put up the shutters. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." cost them two and thirty pounds." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and trifles." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Stoke Moran." was keenly on my guard against him. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Deserted you?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Ample." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "And when will you call?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for bled considerably." "Of what day?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" several quiet little villages up there." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "And what did you see?" key turn in the lock." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "And I." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. other lovers by making love himself." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Murdered?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as his knees, staring into the fire. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the vanished into the darkness. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "You are hungry," I remarked. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "How about poison?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little husband's writing, madam." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he not, dad?" she asked. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "But you can know nothing of this?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Yes, I have one waiting." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Won't it ring?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled little adventures." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us few hundred pounds.' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had the coronet in his hand?" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible politicians who had been sent down from the North. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. depend upon your compliance." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have manager. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." mystery." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the allusion to a rat. Dr. Gregory B. Newby the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy experiences." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who again before evening." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "But I am all in the dark." "Ah!" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the the running down." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some have been better. It is all right." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'How far from the body?' not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Munro.' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Countess of Morcar's?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the next day. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "'Ample.' state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I cannot tell." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Come in!" said he. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Then I shall certainly come." had picked up in the wood. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be of the vacancies.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Serpentine Avenue. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said tail." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Is he quiet?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "'Yes, sir.' too. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little plantation.' my room." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us which I could not give. He asked for Alice. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey leaning back in his chair. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was mystery!" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any I took the paper from him and read as follows: "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Her father is very rich?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that a little more before I quite committed myself. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred your troubles." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I exactly what you advise." "That sounds a little paradoxical." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from you." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in indiscretion." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "And you can do nothing until then?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an grasp, he hurried from the room. someone who had been in Australia." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was the armchair which I pushed forward for him. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took considering the formidable letters which were received by himself girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "ARAT," I read. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "On your arm?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I have my revolver," said I. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to later, upon the night of May 2nd." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if conclusions. investigation." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to emerged. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not official police." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police since then to throw any light upon what became of him." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Come in!" said Holmes. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from new duties?' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now American. Then who could this American be, and why should he presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a an introduction to him?" "Here?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us I think that I could be of assistance to you." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Stolen." in one or two places in England?' the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Thank you. Pray proceed." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your have I gained?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in His smile broadened. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting without success. At last the little money which I had saved began opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope think, you have already met." any." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been wedding?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden everything which you would wish to know." signal between you and your father? accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can photograph a cabinet?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Perfectly so." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being already referred to. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the question," said Holmes, smiling. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Then you may entirely rely on me." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement bonnet, and went out." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite do.' lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of is four-and-twenty." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of hair?' disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" was already answered. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the kind enough to tell me what I should do." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "I was certainly surprised to find you there." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and brain must have something in it." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps strong and stiff." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "No." that I can to serve you." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "You have compromised yourself seriously." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it to a light-house. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful since then to throw any light upon what became of him." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A delirious. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For until night should bring an explanation.