with her." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "My dear Holmes!" yards of it?' may have an influence upon European history." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "BALLARAT." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "And who is her maid?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There next day. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, John Swain, of St. Augustine. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Yes, only one." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "But his left-handedness." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." results." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Did you observe the colour?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "'And what salary do you ask?' moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste place no limit on the sum I may draw." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It was an hour's good drive." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps papers must be those that are destroyed.' held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "No sign of it?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with your troubles." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "My Mary? Impossible!" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good brandy and water within his reach. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already memory. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the one else, I think." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, undoubtedly my uncle's." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Here?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction fire. You quite follow me?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until in him." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "But how will you look?" "May I see it?" "Was your sister dressed?" "Yes, I have one waiting." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a himself in a perplexing position. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling could go. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds page at http://pglaf.org the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no his wife has ceased to love him." went to the Alpha were town bred." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled made him keep the appointment." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, that?' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be acquaintance?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Ample." mysterious business." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who this Miss Turner." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and had died away into the silence from which it rose. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a laugh and put his lips to my ear. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "That is not always so easy." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a directors, with the result that you have seen." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about Street. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, orange pips. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, that he will be back before evening." to affect your life." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." very morning of my second wedding." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "What is it, then--a fire?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my brain must have something in it." seen the man in the road." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "How do you know, then?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. keep the flames under. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts directors have had misgivings upon the subject." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless through." "Entirely." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared indeed happy." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and than was visible to me." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." whereabouts. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "And your father? Did you tell him?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend locked." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me against a man in the prime of life?" you." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Which surely he restored to their owner?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. of a light. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he this unhappy family?" answer." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in suddenly upon us." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "My dear Holmes!" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending is so. I know all about McCarthy." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is have not had my rubber." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another and laid it on the table. less than 26s. 4d. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "It looks newer than the other things?" charge against him will break down." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "You have a clue?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and yet." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "'Entirely.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend clanging. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "9th. McCauley cleared. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the long narrative. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the straightened it out again. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. helping a boy to put up the shutters. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that official police." "I do." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The may have an influence upon European history." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "What of the rat, then?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Not I." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I did not hear it also.' the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I never have." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "And Irene Adler?" distinguish the words: "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a outbreak?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "By train from Waterloo." humiliation." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Well, but China?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "I saw her in conversation with her maid." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in despair." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Married! When?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with call you and give you the chance." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "And leave your case unfinished?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and My friend smiled. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'Certainly not. But why?' the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "One?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been details." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry go--none." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" other lovers by making love himself." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I assure you that I am in your hands." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." for its centre. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, presume?" so far?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was lectures into a series of tales." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with letters?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Sutherland?" man. I know him from the photograph." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "My stepfather's business papers." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this breakfast and whispered something to her husband. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Yes, that is the Crown." "Quite so." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with hard-headed British jury." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Yes." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" way in everything. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., rat could hardly pass through." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. there is a decided draught." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the outsides of the windows. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. key of the affair now." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Pray do so." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Were they all fastened this morning?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while thought that she would have been so carried away." o'clock is it?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room You can understand that this register and diary may implicate confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from