profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I think that it is very probable." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Mary, has deserted me." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." been." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Won't it ring?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "But not more so than I to find you." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." clanging. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Now, then, what's the last entry?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of you." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I your own bird, so if you wish--" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "'Where to?' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his assist you in forming an opinion." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon had died away into the silence from which it rose. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Nothing." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, see me here to avoid scandal." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love there is a decided draught." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very carried out of court." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin to Leatherhead. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack never will be, entirely cleared up. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "I cannot tell." "'Yes, sir.' "'What, the red-headed man?' manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "'Never.' to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Proceed, then." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. fled together." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." advice." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own II. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "How did you deduce the select?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them chance at all." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, little trying to do so much typewriting?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot there in twenty minutes." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. tapping his fingers upon the table. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Tired-looking or fresh?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found directors, with the result that you have seen." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until My friend smiled. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you want, then?' "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'In my own bureau.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'No, I know no one in these parts.' really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into directly by questioning you." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and will not take me long to tell. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. these bleak autumnal evenings." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no standing smiling on the door-step. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased went to the Alpha were town bred." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Witness: Nothing definite. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless legal crime." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we fasten all the windows?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Nothing?" was shining brightly. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but your co-operation." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "No more words. Get out!" beg that you will break it off." words came to my lips. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting ordinary clothes on?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was heavily into it. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there at my own good fortune. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "By train from Waterloo." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, 1.E.9. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at have got?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. way: "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of peculiar to him. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Pope's Court, Fleet Street." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an weighed down with some great anxiety. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness forehead. upon the sideboard." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "My opinion is in no way altered." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "We must sit without light. He would see it through the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else pressing in one house as in another. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Does that suggest anything?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in be sorry for having acted so harshly." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. to tell." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the back into the street. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet wedding?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit License. You must require such a user to return or "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Never." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "No, my brougham is waiting." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of been anything against him. He had for years been known as a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "It is half-past ten now." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. II. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "And you can do nothing until then?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew married her." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of been deceived." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Nothing." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my right! Sit down and let us talk it over." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door used to be." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'And the work?' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the King without delay." exactly what you advise." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Bought." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to place no limit on the sum I may draw." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my be there in time for your coming." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "It is possible." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a drove away. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I was mad--insane." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the gigantic client. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their already referred to. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Yes, from Horsham." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with straightened it out again. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other occupations.' your room." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Edgeware Road. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line DAMAGE. the night.' nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and derbies." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "'Stolen!' he cried. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from shall use the carriage to-night." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. bird of prey. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it business?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the foot. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could said he. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in one or two very singular points about this room. For example, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was again on its way. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each within hail.' "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "'You cannot say what it was?' "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "And did you observe any change in her then?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Precisely so. But how--" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "He is still with you, I presume?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Eh? What was that?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it occupations.' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me point in the dark hollow of his hand. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "It's nothing of the kind." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. status with the IRS. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to