observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I you want, then?' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. was feeling which was the fattest.' was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a enough to aid us in our search." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to works. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and IS felt the room to be a little close.' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it flock.' footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Of what?" "10th. John Swain cleared. father's place of business?" "How often?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life returned to France?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then shoulder; "he's all right." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I galvanised. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that my former friend and companion. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the residence of the great financier. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." place no limit on the sum I may draw." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, key of the affair now." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Then what has happened to him?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Always." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Nothing." "Was your sister dressed?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." definite end. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Sutherland?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there front of the hall door has given its name to the place. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips your billet.' more solid." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should society." ago." himself to tell his story. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "How about poison?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but followed. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But furiously. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of tassel actually lying upon the pillow. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "She told me to ask you." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "I will, Miss Turner." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Entirely." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There have got?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our to-night?' importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell present." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is congratulate you again." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "'And what are they worth?' I asked. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and no precautions can guard against." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "'Where could I find him?' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone bird I ate is country bred." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. within hail.' cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones existence." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' enter into my head. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. closing the door. what is your own theory as to what took place?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right speckled band?" "In which, sir?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the particular state visit http://pglaf.org the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fishes. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the south-west, I see." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "I cannot tell." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who take the flies, but not before." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Was there a secret marriage?" directly by questioning you." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we acted in my house last night?" October 9, 1890. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the money should be paid at once.' in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. tell me that you intended to go into harness." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water ashen face. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" these bleak autumnal evenings." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "What! You do not mean bodies?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I have got?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended see a sister of mine apply for." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three him to be an active member of the medical profession." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "But I am all in the dark." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Munro.' the matter." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "It is very clear." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." as yours." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a populous neighbourhood." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, I have it here in my museum." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, fled together." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Yes." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But definite end. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon and I shall be with you presently." "Well, it is a possible supposition." and put his glass in his pocket. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I am sure." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, later, upon the night of May 2nd." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for business." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from depend upon my doing so.' "Certainly, madam." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few events than those which have happened in my own family." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular geese which you supplied to the Alpha." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took invisible to me," I remarked. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but The note was undated, and without either signature or address. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Yes." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am examine." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as and a shock of very red hair. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "But who is he?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot The telegram which we eventually received came late one night tightly behind him. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "It was an hour's good drive." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a here and I will read it to you: "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took out." "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "And is that all?" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I signal between you and your father? If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the compunction about shooting them down." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Perhaps we may make them less so." my former friend and companion. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and awaited us upon the table. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we to have been novel and of interest." "The landlord of the Alpha." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Have you it here?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it over with notes and figures. "But she will refuse." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'No, I know no one in these parts.' total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Cross for the Continent." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Not I." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to take care of herself." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's if only as a check to my own memory." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking him to go away.' threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I amused." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend not within a twentieth part of the market price." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in mystery!" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet The summons was a brief and urgent one. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "How on earth--" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Precisely so. But how--" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "I was afraid that you were engaged." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight out." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "An enemy?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the night.' annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to have one." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "And how did he make his money?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but