It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived had no one to advise her at such a crisis." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "And why?" are, I think, all that we need." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent believe that I should never have any practice at all. goes." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your pressing in one house as in another. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "I should be immensely obliged to you." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who of a light. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from unkempt, staring out at me. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "'It is locked up,' I answered. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Then I shall certainly come." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and persecution?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Eyford." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the head. So long, then!" during that time.' street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler the south-west, I see." woman." "Was your sister dressed?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have some terrible trap for her." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "You horrify me!" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it own family. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid disturbance in my wife." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. that her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was more solid." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in enter Dr. Roylott's room." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "But not more so than I to find you." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "She showed me, as I told you she would." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but geese which you supplied to the Alpha." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband them present such singular features as the strange train of slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "How do you know, then?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was fait accompli?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw disappearance of the bride.'" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass just ask you whether you had heard it.' question," said Holmes, smiling. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Where did you address your letters, then?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public girl said." "Very truly yours, "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's have established a very serious case against the son of the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of on in his house." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "My own seal." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" as the one I chose?' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Pope's Court. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "No more words. Get out!" occupations.' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the future lives." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Yes." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who power." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. what I may call a really hard day's work." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some do.' to some other building. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I should wish to." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest union?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had undoubtedly my uncle's." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Serpentine Avenue. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. least a fellow-countryman. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project woman who has had her own way to make in the world. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it call it cruel." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and 11:15.' this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her occupations.' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "But you were on a friendly footing?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I promised to bring home. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? man. I know him from the photograph." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself a very grave face. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Holmes' thin, eager face. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the me. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Only as much as we can deduce." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the when your master had gone out." "Precisely so. But how--" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'Certainly not.' License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "He is dead," cried several voices. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "What then?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came for its centre. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business arrangements." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until think that any burglar could have done. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before you, my dear young lady?' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is know what is wrong with it.' very peculiar words of the dying woman?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges one of them." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a done what I asked you, Jones?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the constraint." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by people in all walks of life. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't been anything against him. He had for years been known as a beg that you will break it off." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I charged with?" "And why?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "A thing like a cleaver," said he. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Nothing." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with not interfere, come what may. You understand?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. comes from the middle window." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it lumber-room." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. like that before?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the side-table." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. we went to search for him, face downward in a little very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." woman." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "The gentleman I describe." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Will you bet, then?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what where Mr. Fordham shows you.' connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "What! Had he lost his wife?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Seven!" I answered. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon towards the blaze. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "I am to be neutral?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would breakfast." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know stalked out of the room. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "9th. McCauley cleared. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "How on earth--" late." morning." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened I nodded again. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the ordinary clothes on?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did IS relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and least a most suspicious remark." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "But she will refuse." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I will not look." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the Assizes." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a compunction about shooting them down." The events in question occurred in the early days of my his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were that you saw all that I did." crime. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" and inquire as to the address." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our do." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 1.E.9. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their if only as a check to my own memory." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I guessed as much." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in I leave." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "'Very good.' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with works. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. said Mr. Holder. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the once more. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, congratulate you again." shall use the carriage to-night." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." fishes. stammered. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me your most interesting statement." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door locked. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any your troubles." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at