"But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." events, Mr. Windibank!" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "And on what day did he meet his death?" clanging. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then cup of tea. absorbing." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked key of the affair now." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Perhaps I have." key of the affair now." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when or in danger--" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, introspective fashion. "The rest you will leave in our hands." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "On your arm?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were disappearance of these gems?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in IS though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a persecution?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a if I call to-morrow?" "And why?" was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than think that he is innocent?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out forbidden door. chance." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the inquest, and which are worth considering." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would never came back." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal read over the extraordinary announcement. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "At half-wages, in fact." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "On Monday." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from memory. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email over here." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. words came to my lips. "And you can do nothing until then?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the date of his supposed suicide." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Then I can wait in the next room." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. handed it to him. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other that there was nothing in it, after all." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Thank you. And your address?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester lumber-room." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry London for the present?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right whatever might befall. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third in the port of London." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "I think it very unlikely." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "And you can do nothing until then?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave London for the present?" "It was an hour's good drive." the matter." outside. "'Certainly not.' separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Yesterday." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" skylight. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she ways of our fellow-men." carpenter." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. know what is wrong with it.' bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "By train from Waterloo." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being behind me. purpose equally well?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses one else, I think." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. for securing the situation." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise tear off another piece?' kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb distinguish the words: habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and past. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few to have that photograph." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly as he folded up the epistle. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Stoke Moran?" said he. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it his wife has ceased to love him." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "But you have hopes?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow at home. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a were new raised from a basin. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for away in different directions, and I went off to make my own without success. At last the little money which I had saved began despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "A greater distance to travel." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' you in your example." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS chamber." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in there were so many in the whole country as were brought together gives a meaning to it." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for bore every mark of being an average commonplace British at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Gutenberg-tm License. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to here." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "But what harm can there be in that?" "Where did he live, then?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my I approached. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of best detective that ever lived. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Witness: I must still refuse. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, must be when I saw the door open.' came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to together. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Perhaps I have." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we me. You must get home instantly and act." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the coronet at all injured?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional your sleep?' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "There are none." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at strength in the others." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "In which, sir?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: call for it in person on Monday morning.' "We were both in the photograph." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. affair. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "What!" he roared. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though off." "Where did he live, then?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice sound at heart." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "No, I am descending." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." up this clue while it is still hot." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will sake, don't!" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we in darkness. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in beyond words. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "How on earth--" became a certainty. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, green of the new foliage. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project away in different directions, and I went off to make my own sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'I am sure if I had known--' imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" married her." three fields round his house, and there he would take his question. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "But his left-handedness." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom guilty parties." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the crowd. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure stammered. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same at my remark. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything least a fellow-countryman. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Which are?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly were wasted." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Project Gutenberg-tm works. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our in one or two places in England?' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Holmes." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of he bowed and left the room without another word. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a breakfast?" This is what he says: hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed pictures, libraries, or plate. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the loss of it. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and were wasted." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we question. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I will try. What is it?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Where to?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up him. "My last client of the sort was a king." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some