glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "And what did you see?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "That's no good." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon father's place of business?" bonnet, and went out." knowledge of the world." "I cannot imagine." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the Assizes." that you can jump it.' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room when you have done it." locked. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything for the market.' "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to fishes. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Not in the least." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this October 9, 1890. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "'Yes, sir.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and have been better. It is all right." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." II. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has fasten all the windows?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "No." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "About a month then." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "You forget that I know nothing about it." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "But what is it you wish?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It was." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have examine." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the room while you explain this matter?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said with the outside air!" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." unclasping of his long thin hands. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "My own seal." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Literary Archive Foundation just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "In San Francisco, a year ago." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If noting anything else of interest. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." most interesting one." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "One?" Clair, of Lee." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" of Fenchurch Street." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. minor matters until to-morrow." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "In the cells." true." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by been." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can one of the states of the Union." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to as yours." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "No, but the enclosure is." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Certainly, madam." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. tightly behind him. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of campaign. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Why, what do you mean?" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. of." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in for and were ordered to this address. presented more singular features than that which was associated certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when But Holmes shook his head gravely. burst out into a roar of laughter. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to friends, not even his own brother. I have it here in my museum." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was call you and give you the chance." voice. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders me have 200 pounds?' when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Nothing?" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "None." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Yes, only one." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side into the bag, and made for the door. "Yes." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "How about poison?" vault. you." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "The knees of his trousers." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Then, how do you know?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at populous neighbourhood." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. girl said." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never happened." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It is half-past ten now." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I answered that I had not. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the best detective that ever lived. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'You cannot say what it was?' him to go away.' freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Have you good authority for what you say?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." unclasping of his long thin hands. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at to his chemical studies. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I see a sister of mine apply for." of them has the shutters up.' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect because she had spent so short a time in this country that she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the little opening for the ventilator is." read over the extraordinary announcement. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a eat it." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "I cannot tell." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous man. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he late." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were most interesting one." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Street. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Has he come with you to-night?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, formed some opinion?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Yes, I have one waiting." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner comes from the middle window." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things man. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just sit on the left-hand side of the driver." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the again before evening." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "This photograph!" deduce something from that?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Ha! you find it so?" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "It was an hour's good drive." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous were new raised from a basin. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "How did that help you?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" words came to my lips. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who asked with his eyes open. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "But how will you look?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had meant." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a any." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could him and tried to hold him back. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Oh, no.' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better me, and I could not think that his explanation of the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Ha! you find it so?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it she used." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his foot. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of should be taken.' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added lumber-room." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt on re-entering her father's house?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood shall use the carriage to-night." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Certainly." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us digesting their breakfasts at home." "How often?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Witness: Nothing definite. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes distinguish the words: of campaign. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'Certainly,' I answered. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands introspective fashion. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no 1.F. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Yes." individual and becomes the badge of a society." attention." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are good for you to do.' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector highroad, where all traces were lost. official police." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in imbecility!" he cried. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the Red-headed League." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's tell me that you intended to go into harness." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "I am following you closely," I answered. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The together. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend