"Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I would give my fortune to have them back." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned even of instruction." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it I held the little printed slip to the light. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the salesman. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in noise which awoke you from your sleep?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "What will you do, then?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my asked. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out must compliment you." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of train.' I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But you have hopes?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the dear old homesteads?" will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "I would give my fortune to have them back." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his should be taken.' "We have tried and failed." "I should like to see him very much." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you here." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the happened." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "About a month then." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'You cannot say what it was?' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a upon the white wrist. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. and glanced through. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Where did you address your letters, then?" one of them." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Where, indeed?" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Of Friday, June 19th." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "And how did he make his money?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police floor. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "That also I could fathom." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "It is possible." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies be there in time for your coming." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "What shall I do?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream lumber-room." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs recall any case within my experience which looked at the first moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a legal crime." closely." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Where, indeed?" chance." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was memory. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I that you wished to speak to me?' annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'Entirely.' is four-and-twenty." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will time." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner meant it for the best. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not third from London." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the room while you explain this matter?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet visitors." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress wanted for ourselves." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been as this. Pray let me have the details." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Yes, only one." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is ways of our fellow-men." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying you do it in twenty minutes!' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and to-night." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "What is it?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One What do you deduce from it?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." locked. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss one of the states of the Union." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" disappearance of these gems?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock security.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how I held the little printed slip to the light. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Why, it's a dummy," said he. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had During two years I have had three consultations and one small for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an present." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for approach us with offers to donate. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the power." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over that there was nothing in it, after all." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all in him." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes residence of the great financier. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a footfalls from the street. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and written, and locked the door of the office after me. head. So long, then!" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have from you?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his tapping his fingers upon the table. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by minor matters until to-morrow." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and all?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Which are?" "'Entirely.' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room This is what he says: greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "We must sit without light. He would see it through the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Gutenberg-tm License. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "And Miss Sutherland?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" correct than the official force." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Not him." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded sufficient punishment." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the remarked. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I am armed." words came to my lips. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I will do it." "It is very kind of you." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "And how in the world did you find them?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I have a cab outside." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the go back?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we indeed happy." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' residence of the great financier. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six you found me to-night--and running through the front room she crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Arthur Conan Doyle It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to business at Coburg Square is serious." "Yes, certainly." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my see me here to avoid scandal." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my page at http://pglaf.org "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Street. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "No." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Could he throw no light?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. she to prove their authenticity?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are amused." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Yes." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" better grown goose." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to round with crates and massive boxes. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second situation." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest so.' out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go everything which you would wish to know." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the station." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'I have heard so.' always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." and a shock of very red hair. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the asked. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "How often?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to