its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I fear not." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "But we can't all be." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Holmes rather sternly. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' acquaintance?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of read it out to me." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss his fortune, and I went back to pa. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily ready to-morrow?' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of to-morrow." will be renamed. Cross for the Continent." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great pictures, libraries, or plate. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Where to?" staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, posted to-day." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional of them has the shutters up.' his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "None. Neville wrote those words." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Where, then?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to fasten all the windows?" "Yes." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. interest. They are important, you understand, without being tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we outside." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the so-precious time, but come!' "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position upon the sideboard." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On recover the gem." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the matter." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Absolutely none." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." observed. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a becomes even more simple." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three spark where all is dark to me." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came tension within him. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable crackling voice. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "We were both in the photograph." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Did you become engaged then?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It McCarthy." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Clair, of Lee." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am I was concerned in it." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own happened." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" brain must have something in it." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Edgeware Road. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the important." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich works. See paragraph 1.E below. like that before?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "I am following you closely," I answered. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend instincts rose up against that laugh. trying to your nerves." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting you found me to-night--and running through the front room she there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Cross for the Continent." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he this Miss Turner." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he it were putty." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "He said that you could solve anything." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "It is no ordinary one." exactly what you advise." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are became a certainty. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, developed." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a place of silver." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden to some other building. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I look upon these things in a different way." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of assist you in forming an opinion." "I was mad--insane." "No, I think that I'll take it." union?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and speckled band?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." or other trace. But how on earth--" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the standing smiling on the door-step. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into chamber." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive of the efforts of the United States government and of the better I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Then what has happened to him?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and tightly behind him. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "You horrify me!" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I don't say that. Perhaps." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story charged with?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Nothing?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Ten will be early enough." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, brandy and water within his reach. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter in a very precise fashion." the stable lane now." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant that you saw all that I did." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Very much so." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. that "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' young Openshaw's." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I have hopes." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." bearing upon the case." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me yet." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Why? What do you mean?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Get out!" said he. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he be. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Thank you. Pray proceed." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very go back?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "And I." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Will you bet, then?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose what I may call a really hard day's work." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning some mystery and the punishment of some crime." our word." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my swore that no one else had been in the front room during the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove wanted for ourselves." strong reason behind." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the to-night?' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions relief. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an daring than any effort of the imagination." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Very truly yours, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I cheerful." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Ample." "And how did you find out?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some do.' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always excitement. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern washing it down with a long draught of water. "The doctor?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of believe that I should never have any practice at all. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret lectures into a series of tales." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "But not more so than I to find you." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my vague figure huddled up in the darkness. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would a very grave face. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I think it very unlikely." "'Yes, it was gone.' Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "What do you make of that, Watson?" sound at heart." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "And how have you succeeded?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours indeed happy." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is other, as fresh and trim as possible. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" 1.F. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, again before evening." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is been with you?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door God! What an exposure! What can I do?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "You heard nothing yourself last night?" front of me. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall money should be paid at once.' sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "But the mystery?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Street. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. wedding?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and invisible to me," I remarked. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Certainly." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he shoulder. may never be exposed to such a temptation." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Does that suggest anything?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Absolutely?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to opened the door, and slipped through. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Farm upon the left." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his recover the gem." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Mrs. Toller serenely. What do you deduce from it?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly DAMAGE. the Red-headed League." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "I cannot tell." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "She will not sell." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Certainly." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "To an English lawyer named Norton." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer was shining brightly. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime persecution?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "No. His orders were to stay in the house." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right seen the man in the road." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen one's self under obligations.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to papers on the sundial.'" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "He disappeared so suddenly." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, populous neighbourhood." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Literary Archive Foundation