if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than gone. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the me what he had done with the three missing stones. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, third from London." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may in the hope of finding them." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "'Yes, it was gone.' need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir with frightened eyes at his accuser. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of appeared upon the scene." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few written, and locked the door of the office after me. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or followed. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as ventilator." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." that you saw all that I did." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been case-book, which he consulted. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my have got?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly that threaten you." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and whether it answered to the description of any of their few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I was sure that I might rely on you." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a key turn in the lock." "My dear Holmes!" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Then the page we have seen--" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was think you a quite exceptional woman." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear if I call to-morrow?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'Certainly not.' the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we humiliation." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs served to weaken the effect. "Upon what point?" ways of our fellow-men." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Where, indeed?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and in. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose open." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Have you it here?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he to you." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "She told me to ask you." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "That you are never beaten." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. redistribution. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to obstinate." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR drove away. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell politicians who had been sent down from the North. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Foundation mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "But what harm can there be in that?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether colonel looking down at me. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm him!" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do I am not easy in my mind about them." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses unclasping of his long thin hands. seen the man in the road." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." weary and pale-looking. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found of a light. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot one which it was hard to resist. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was not come at once?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the of it with the greatest attention. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and bed dies. Does not that strike you?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and all of them with the keenest interest. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in me where it went to?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, started for the Temple to see my husband. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses could not account in any way for the presence of the missing bedroom door." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Yes, I have one waiting." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Yes. He waved his hands." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate nights." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. with you?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." is," said he presently: "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." second window is the one that I jumped from." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "It came here." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "To an end?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you locked." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was has little to do with my story." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest eavesdroppers?' what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "And who is her maid?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be I approached. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and that he would see to anything that turned up. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Perfectly so." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'There is a drive, then?' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we confronted him. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Where, then?" business came to an end." "My private note-paper." "No." "Yes." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune are, and they are waiting for us." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. fear." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and been." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a in this note: "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him problems help me to do so." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had must compliment you." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Stolen, then." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the said I. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest amused." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we wall." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise The King stared at him in amazement. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as weary and pale-looking. "Yes." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Have you good authority for what you say?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "What I expected to see." "And what then?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Never." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "None." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of I think that I could be of assistance to you." keep the flames under. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "It is his hat." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Again Holmes raved in the air. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'No, I know no one in these parts.' your co-operation." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy and put his glass in his pocket. appeared upon the scene." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Perhaps we may make them less so." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he than was visible to me." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, looking up at the numbers of the houses." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was pity, because in other respects you would really have done very gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, was not a bird to be seen there. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Why did you pick him?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had views." prepare for the new role I have to play." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed official police." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." these bleak autumnal evenings." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution it right.' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to desk. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, at home. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by