side. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "'I have already given you my word.' on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she DAMAGE. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. bedroom door." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Holmes' face clouded over. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "No more words. Get out!" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated upon a handsome competence. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Lee, in the county of Kent." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Not him." held up the lantern and gazed about him. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At away in different directions, and I went off to make my own was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the Red-headed League." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "'Entirely.' occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Watson," he said cordially. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the him to be an active member of the medical profession." like gravel from a pit.' the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "You don't mind breaking the law?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother joking. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular a few minutes he said that it would be all right. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Ten will be early enough." or in danger--" "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are States. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I answered that I had not. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of is acting for the best. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is in. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Cross for the Continent." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the occupations.' which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a to tell." colonel looking down at me. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Doctor, of the paper and the date." chance." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the once more to my work. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "So it appears." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Who was the criminal, then?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my woman who has had her own way to make in the world. and no precautions can guard against." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'Very good.' have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "ARAT," I read. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But what harm can there be in that?" man. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so notes," he said. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'I shall certainly be there.' to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which there was no need for father to know." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. me where it went to?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have nice household for a young lady." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'Is purely nominal.' idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and your relations to her." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What! Had he lost his wife?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my see me here to avoid scandal." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" his grey eyes. lost nothing by them." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to our word." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because could not have written that. It is the German who is so however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Dr. Becher's." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may colonel looking down at me. we went to search for him, face downward in a little and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "I warn you that they are very incomplete." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "One?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that conduct the inquiry." that I can to serve you." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty John Swain, of St. Augustine. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Did your wife hear all this?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the again." giving me time to thank him. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "His face fell immediately. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "What can it mean?" I gasped. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the used to be." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few disappearance of the bride.'" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "You are certainly joking, Holmes." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been and all of them with the keenest interest. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I have seen the police." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously sake, don't!" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Yes, it was twisted." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. been." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "She walked into the breakfast-room." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always power." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Yes, the wine-cellar." British peeress.'" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that said I. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. copied or distributed: I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. events than those which have happened in my own family." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. business." "'Certainly not. But why?' to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' delighted to hear it," he said. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was already been minutely examined." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to your equipment. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the cigar and let me expound." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the stones. "And help." "She told me to ask you." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Sholtos." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, friend's singular character. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the coronet in his hand?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Holmes." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." trifles." IS face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for orange pips. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the that he will be back before evening." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the made his money." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should what do you think they found in the pockets?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place and files of the old papers, following the future career of every putting in the horse. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet there is a decided draught." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Holmes' thin, eager face. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to absorbing." returning from some small jollification and was making his way ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in is a common subject for conversation. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, it." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, your Highness to the police-station?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Yes, it was twisted." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Yes, he did." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign Holmes rather sternly. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "But you have hopes?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. best detective that ever lived. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, laugh and put his lips to my ear. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis matter." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be papers must be those that are destroyed.' nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, as he folded up the epistle. to a light-house. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in gentleman's clothes. never will be, entirely cleared up. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "And your father? Did you tell him?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident had died away into the silence from which it rose. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "My dear Holmes!" a monotonous occupation." front of me. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle felt?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk then?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Yes, at the mines." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us I was concerned in it." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Yes. He waved his hands." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, constraint." "So it appears." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I warn you that they are very incomplete." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel