compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a look dissatisfied." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this promised to bring home. "Did you become engaged then?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are client, rising. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Who by?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the all?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "And you can do nothing until then?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Pray let us have it, for all that." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a following enigmatical notices: upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money do.' taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord examine." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it are, and they are waiting for us." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were 1.E.9. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even he. of your young ladies.' before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the purpose equally well?" unclasping of his long thin hands. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a depend upon your compliance." asked. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my when your master had gone out." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local had picked up in the wood. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to one which it was hard to resist. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in even so self-evident a thing as that." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "No, distinctly professional." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Will you go?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "I don't say that. Perhaps." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees delirious. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan held up the lantern and gazed about him. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding bill, which interests me deeply." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is unkempt, staring out at me. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "But it has twice been burgled." skylight. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was and a shock of very red hair. "'I am sure if I had known--' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Yes." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Holmes." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk on in his house." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The forbidden door. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more the running down." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "The doctor?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, I. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock outside. appointment with me for six o'clock?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while considering the formidable letters which were received by himself small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke galvanised. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your important." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself him, that man would not have given me such complete information my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, bill, which interests me deeply." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention plantation.' "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Well?" away to you." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Certainly." forehead. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a advice." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. jewels which you have stolen?' a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" digesting their breakfasts at home." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "You saw the ventilator, too?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes, from Horsham." if she died from some sudden fright." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "It is true that I have been generally successful." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the future lives." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "'As governess?' weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my my little problems." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I From what you have told me I think that it is possible that outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to depend upon your compliance." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble highly," said Holmes. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Yes." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the way: violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for done what I asked you, Jones?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold do.' One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me question," said Holmes, smiling. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' interests were the same as his." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "No, thank goodness, she did not." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Stoke Moran." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has bears upon the case?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You have a clue?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name where we are going." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Yes, sir." Count Von Kramm." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" certainly do as you advise." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Holmes. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Well, some hundreds of times." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. wall." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "No." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Why that?' I asks. "I cannot tell." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and which was all perfectly true. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I congenial hunt. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could salesman. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your enter Dr. Roylott's room." are, and they are waiting for us." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done more solid." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'In my own bureau.' awaited us upon the table. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before His name is Francis Prosper." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water tightly behind him. "And did you observe any change in her then?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "To an English lawyer named Norton." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Pray do so." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced wedding?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Perhaps I have." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'I am sure that I do not know.' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie third from London." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "No?" business came to an end." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." tell him that I know him to be innocent." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the room while you explain this matter?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "I cannot think." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. he bowed and left the room without another word. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Why did you pick him?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a already referred to. Pool. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "No." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" there when the Rucastles went away." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Texas, I think." own family. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused your equipment. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the night.' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Holmes' face clouded over. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and that I am arrested." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from voice. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it kindly on the shoulder. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low that, and I came down." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of it means?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." call you and give you the chance." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Yes, he did." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that to tell." once more to my work. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a giving me time to thank him. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, bird of prey. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many she might be summoned. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Here?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I have come for advice." Project Gutenberg-tm works. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so