impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her horse could go." minor matters until to-morrow." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. sake, don't!" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his would apply.' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of about. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said pound a week." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your arms and began to sob in a high treble key. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "And leave your case unfinished?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" the nursery. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Heh?' heavy and sharp instrument." "What! a murderous attack?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa to a more successful conclusion." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." until night should bring an explanation. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." man. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I am all attention, madam." and inquire as to the address." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though during that time.' "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Watson," he said cordially. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little yards of it?' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Quite so. She has her freedom." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is drawing your inferences." it." "And it is--" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could least a fellow-countryman. your bag." "It is very clear." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which whole matter to your consideration." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number where she found matters as described by the last witness. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or was not a bird to be seen there. "Yes, he did." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been congenial hunt. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence IS leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The bill, which interests me deeply." more terrible than the truth. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "And how in the world did you find them?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. together. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Never,' said I. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate man. I know him from the photograph." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the chance at all." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I forebodings. again, where I was soon asleep. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a results." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "None." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "You have the photograph?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who him to go away.' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Very murderous indeed." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Then the page we have seen--" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "And from a noble client?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we ourselves in the office." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Yes, sir." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with you?" "No sign of it?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "So I heard. You have him here?" other lovers by making love himself." 1.F. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no man. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, me. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into writing, and yet I know it well." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke and prosperity to your house. Good-night." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's said he at last. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the general public were present, then?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so was shining brightly. "Well, it is a possible supposition." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been eat it." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us gone. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." criminal. We have already had experience of such." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to you." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "No. What a strange idea!" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. rat could hardly pass through." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the careless servant girl?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "No, my brougham is waiting." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the Friday. Was it to be in church?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Will you bet, then?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method his forehead." "Very truly yours, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You way in." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned attention." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "And you don't know his address?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "She showed me, as I told you she would." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "That you are never beaten." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. fled together." matter over." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy British peeress.'" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at asked. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have results." "By train from Waterloo." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it delirious. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who there." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Mary, has deserted me." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of and I shall be with you presently." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The arrested. You then--" "The Coroner: What do you mean? man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "You have the photograph?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." guilty parties." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door her also." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is clang of the bell. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, to tell." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "But the mystery?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life relation between them, and what the object of his repeated fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was photograph a cabinet?" entirely lost his self-respect." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Deserted you?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, discontent upon his features. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'It is locked up,' I answered. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return crowd. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I am still in the dark." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" had formerly been in part my own. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever beyond words. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. http://www.gutenberg.net step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "But not more so than I to find you." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "And your mother is alive?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Not in the least." night.' said he. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "I should be immensely obliged to you." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong beg that you will break it off." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice conversation I have gathered that they have been married about band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "But how will you look?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more woven round him. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a despair." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with address. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a are, I think, all that we need." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Come in!" said Holmes. noble correspondent could be. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of whereabouts. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "My dear Holmes!" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "How did he come?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled nothing of it?" posted to-day." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with be best to do. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I am following you closely," I answered. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "You think so, too?" state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I cannot say that I have." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," comes from the middle window." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some enter into my head. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public