yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that your room." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "How are you getting on?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "A confidential servant?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked invisible to me," I remarked. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would used to be." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in wall." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or foresight and the moral retrogression?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes he bowed and left the room without another word. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Did he not advertise?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "But I am all in the dark." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that and glanced through. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have said Mr. Holder. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." deduce something from that?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. have not had my rubber." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional extraordinary contortions. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, details." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "What of the rat, then?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how back alive. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of secret." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "About a month then." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you directors, with the result that you have seen." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and things are very often connected not with the larger but with the undoubtedly my uncle's." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "No sign of it?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some never came back." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "I say that I have solved it." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the observed. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Lee, in the county of Kent." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise cheerful." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor call for protection in the marriage market, for the present the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. with the outside air!" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all is a common subject for conversation. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Yes, he did." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Dr. Becher's." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and hour?' you do it in twenty minutes!' "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "That is unusual in a young girl." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "It is possible." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem lost his Christmas dinner." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine fact, we may call it conclusive." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. then?" generous with you in money matters.' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, keep the flames under. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Absolutely none." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "My opinion is in no way altered." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "They are typewritten," I remarked. be.' grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day signal between you and your father? cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting answer." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they asked. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "It was a confession," I ejaculated. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate opportunities to fix the problem. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Gutenberg-tm License. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the matter." brandy and water within his reach. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical McCarthy." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences fait accompli?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch returned to France?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "The vanishing of the lady." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six read over the extraordinary announcement. "Pray do so." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I on in his house." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are better grown goose." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to any more." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. be best to do. weighed down with some great anxiety. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "No, I am descending." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "You saw the ventilator, too?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the foot. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'Is purely nominal.' fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the been shamefully used." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "But how?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'Then let me do so?' possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what way in everything. nice household for a young lady." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Gutenberg-tm License. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "And why in hopes?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection is so. I know all about McCarthy." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the several quiet little villages up there." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "At the wedding breakfast." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity that more solid." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "It came here." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "You have carte blanche." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. I nodded again. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "So I have heard." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Henry Baker is a member." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Quite so." lost his Christmas dinner." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. fattened it expressly for you.' up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "What is it, then--a fire?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Nor running a chance of arrest?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they go--none." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is little trying to do so much typewriting?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is signal between you and your father? call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening charged with?" "But how?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the his grey eyes. "And what did you see?" "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "What then?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day he. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "I promise," said Holmes. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had washing it down with a long draught of water. "It is very kind of you." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Arthur Conan Doyle keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock into the room. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in tapping his fingers upon the table. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of seen the man in the road." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "That is easily got." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Dirty?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered in one or two places in England?' A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something correct than the official force." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I am following you closely," I answered. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "'I shall certainly be there.' "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No some place of shelter and let the county police know what has know what is wrong with it.' "10th. John Swain cleared. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "I think that it is very probable." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to-night." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be which was all perfectly true. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. is," said he presently: II. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. was used.' I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up