matter over." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, annoyance, but no jest. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We make me his representative both with the servants and with the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he meant." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Very truly yours, someone who had been in Australia." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get redistribution. dates and names. Surrey." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is wedding?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, was a lad." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At matter." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his returning from some small jollification and was making his way with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the coronet in his hand?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but our word." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that to surprise her." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "You think that he is dead?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "It was an hour's good drive." "You think that he is dead?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "No sign of it?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "But how?" Cross for the Continent." she might be summoned. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a said I. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. of your young ladies.' "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a that he will be back before evening." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of hopeless attempt at recovering them." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the coronet at all injured?" DISSOLVED. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the night.' pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it one of the states of the Union." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Yes, he did." papers on the sundial.'" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Perhaps we may make them less so." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called be there in time for your coming." "Just look it up, then." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when there were one or two details which were new to me. But the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Then I can wait in the next room." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a British peeress.'" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Have you it here?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the more terrible than the truth. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The it with his own hands." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "You are all wrong." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I was afraid that you were engaged." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "I should like to see him very much." see a sister of mine apply for." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait second." "What, then, did Peterson do?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Then I am your man." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a mysterious end." "Your French gold?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such hour?' objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do occurred." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "You saw the ventilator, too?" cost them two and thirty pounds." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the records." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Come in!" said he. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case at my remark. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until experiences." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to always that they were such commands as a lady might with sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of and put his glass in his pocket. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in possible that we could bring him back to her? "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' next day. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Nearly eleven." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." and no precautions can guard against." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "To an English lawyer named Norton." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a away into the river." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'I have heard so.' of the vacancies.' "Perfectly so." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." garden below. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. tail." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, populous neighbourhood." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. fishes. again, where I was soon asleep. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "You saw the ventilator, too?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Texas, I think." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into hurried by. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Nothing?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little to some other building. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon that you can jump it.' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "What are they?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "On the contrary, this is the right side." dear old homesteads?" "Is he quiet?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to have I gained?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, of them has the shutters up.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which back alive. "Of Friday, June 19th." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as my secret was safe in his possession. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a shoulder; "he's all right." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, bare slabs of marble. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "A thing like a cleaver," said he. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty or other trace. But how on earth--" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Of what day?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "What?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa My friend smiled. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "'Yes, sir.' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "But you have hopes?" to-night's adventure." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into house for five minutes.' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "But it has twice been burgled." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and a good hundred miles off by now." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is long narrative. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend salesman. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," bird I ate is country bred." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been straightened it out again. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" little adventures." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance answered with a sidelong glance. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and photograph?" Literary Archive Foundation "It's nothing of the kind." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Imitated." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from information in his hands the value of which he did not himself woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Witness: It was. that you wished to speak to me?' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief he. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Chief Executive and Director "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Only as much as we can deduce." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began me. You must get home instantly and act." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Nothing?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to not use it unless it is absolutely needed." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Sutherland?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," The telegram which we eventually received came late one night London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "I am in hopes that she does." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Dr. Becher's." not come at once?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "What, then?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." room?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" think, you have already met." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had morning." daring than any effort of the imagination." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her know what is wrong with it.' "No." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and carriage. It was a chestnut." His name is Francis Prosper." interested in these little problems, and since you are good and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "I shall be delighted." "Won't it ring?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the fashion which was peculiar to him. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote