brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' 1.F. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lips." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Precisely." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove prisoner's face. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "It is solved." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. burst out into a roar of laughter. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new when you have done it." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I was afraid that you were engaged." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "And how did you verify them?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his was feeling which was the fattest.' Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, I shall communicate with you." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "And why?" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Yes." your equipment. place of silver." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "How did you trace it, then?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to during that time.' fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that way in everything. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should matter." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "And from a noble client?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Yes." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the window, rose as we entered. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Yes." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "The vanishing of the lady." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Young McCarthy must be got off, however." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she written. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Yes, he did." not personally threatened." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the look upon these things in a different way." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my respectable self." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. be there in time for your coming." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter skylight. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid as the one I chose?' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his started for the Temple to see my husband. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be and the whole place is in a blaze." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "How often?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Deserted you?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "And what did you learn from him?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "No, my brougham is waiting." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" http://gutenberg.net/license). combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Where to?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of people don't know." paper in the air. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "It was a confession," I ejaculated. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "It was." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, said he. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk for securing the situation." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'What, the red-headed man?' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of beyond words. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "He slept on the premises." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "No." that?' of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "There are none." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Come in!" said he. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New you in yours." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking meanly of me." "By no means." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "But how could you guess what the motive was?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. indeed happy." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "'Yes, sir.' observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a about here speaks of his kindness to him." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it out." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil followed. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" think you a quite exceptional woman." families. Now for the facts. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." before the coroner and the police-court." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and which are rolled in Rotterdam." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our States. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "But what will you do?" our word." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened his forehead." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." next day. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his ways of our fellow-men." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the coronet in his hand?" "'Why that?' I asks. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Stoke Moran." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the coroner come to?" "And I say east," said my patient. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "That is unusual in a young girl." this Miss Turner." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I is worth.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope shall not find me ungrateful." "Then you may be so with me." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "But what harm can there be in that?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in individual and becomes the badge of a society." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a vault. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss had this final quarrel? happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "It is a murder, then?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Absolutely?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches like gravel from a pit.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of like that before?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent companion quietly. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat status with the IRS. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Imitated." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then papers must be those that are destroyed.' "And your mother is alive?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely note?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety upon an income of about 60 pounds." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "What then?" placed his cuttings. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, really the only notable feature about the thing." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "How do you know, then?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When your room." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two papers must be those that are destroyed.' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is as the one I chose?' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the in a friendly supper." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you question. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our it." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen over with notes and figures. "Always." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "When did she vanish, then?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would man. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling hard-headed British jury." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." here." "Well." 11:15.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a derbies." where she found matters as described by the last witness. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Yes." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "'Is purely nominal.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what washing it down with a long draught of water. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to footfalls from the street. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it had no one to advise her at such a crisis." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, be sorry for having acted so harshly." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, outbreak?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "'I am sure that I do not know.' Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "It was a confession," I ejaculated. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a rose-bushes. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it shall use the carriage to-night." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle felt the room to be a little close.' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the gives a meaning to it." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled whatever might befall. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out this man was intellectual?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan with you?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his