"Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I was concerned in it." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I shall most certainly do so." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." answer." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his with you alone." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." written. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Precisely so. But how--" waste of energy." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon key turn in the lock." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. villagers almost as much as their master. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he when you have done it." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe it? Did I buy the geese off you?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to said he, "my real name is James Ryder." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "I have seen the police." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "By no means." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Not him." "What shall I do?" "Yes, sir." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the been shamefully used." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have jewels which you have stolen?' "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a His smile broadened. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Clair, of Lee." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "And on what day did he meet his death?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Ha! you find it so?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your late." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "10th. John Swain cleared. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. that?' "'Quite sure, dad.' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me when your master had gone out." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Never." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the lips." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "You heard nothing yourself last night?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "It is true that I have been generally successful." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. there was no need for father to know." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "And you thought he was pulled back?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had John Swain, of St. Augustine. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "No, distinctly professional." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "We have tried and failed." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Nothing." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his business." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in when your master had gone out." question," said Holmes, smiling. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Henry Baker is a member." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. off." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers corner of the building. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but at home. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I felt the room to be a little close.' the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'And what salary do you ask?' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the child." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium been able to understand it, in a very few words. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part bore every mark of being an average commonplace British present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I will get her to show me." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest prepare for the new role I have to play." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his and capable of preserving a secret.' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "That is easily got." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "What, then?" and the colonel ushered me in. "But she could not love him." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in murdered man." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "But how could you guess what the motive was?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned that I can to serve you." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." bonnet, and went out." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen is worth.' "In San Francisco, a year ago." "What do you mean?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he reach." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry ago." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday which we had just quitted. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "No. His orders were to stay in the house." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "In San Francisco, a year ago." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "And what then?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to his face which made him a very different person to the round, without a word or a look. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "What then?" set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Dark enough and sinister enough." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All this as likely?" there has been an enclosure here!" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "And is that all?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and woven round him. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Mrs. Toller serenely. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and McCarthy." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but to-morrow." "But you can know nothing of this?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so outbreak?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the maiden herself was most instructive." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he shoulder. "So I am. Very much so." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, affection." "Upon what point?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. least a most suspicious remark." "But the mystery?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to tackle the facts." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America that threaten you." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'A dozen yards or so.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached formed some opinion?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the some water from a caraffe. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an second." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'There is a drive, then?' Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions affair. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Then he might have called to you?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "No more words. Get out!" least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I answered that I had not. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off lost nothing by them." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And how?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, letters?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending The summons was a brief and urgent one. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight ago." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to that he will be back before evening." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Stolen!' he cried. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Yes, only one." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as which I could not give. He asked for Alice. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Sutherland?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "But who is he?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project investigation." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. would apply.' "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten hurried by. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us memory. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means to go into your room and bar your shutters?" certainly do as you advise." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if not interfere, come what may. You understand?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all along the entire front of the house, with three long windows conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. voice. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless seem to you to be relevant or not." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Well?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little union?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Very well, sir. And this stone?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Then, how do you know?" morning." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "And it is--" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow down from London to inquire more deeply into it." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Precisely." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "And help." to-morrow." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Were they all fastened this morning?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler You want to know what became of those geese?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that fact, we may call it conclusive." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Who by?"