Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, your own bird, so if you wish--" some terrible trap for her." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came child?' the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently within hail.' only touch the interest." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." you for a few hours?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down that, and I came down." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father I shall continue with my miserable story. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the to have been novel and of interest." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him golden eyeglasses. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Why, what do you mean?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his been with you?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less completely overtopped every other consideration that we both can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." be there in time for your coming." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "What is it?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon o'clock is it?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "May I see it?" brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for drove away. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'Never.' "That is also quite modern," said the lady. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." annoyance, but no jest. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in future lives." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help business came to an end." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, envelope. exactly what you advise." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your even so self-evident a thing as that." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than existence." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic system of imprisonment?" Pope's Court. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful astonishment. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right me. into the room. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be American. Then who could this American be, and why should he I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. your only hope of safety." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "When did it break out?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I have come for advice." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply the inner apartment." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Where, then?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked certainly not very gracious." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'And the work?' few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "And the murderer?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were both be extremely obliged.' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, certainly not very gracious." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, tell them apart.' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. skylight. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, such person." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Entirely." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a that you wished to speak to me?' Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the from the brougham. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance of the efforts of the United States government and of the better thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a up this clue while it is still hot." "But how?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "And the murderer?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "But I am all in the dark." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "It came here." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, interests were the same as his." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "What of the rat, then?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Where, indeed?" that "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger have had none more fantastic than this." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I say that I have solved it." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an happened." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons what do you think they found in the pockets?" "The vanishing of the lady." second window is the one that I jumped from." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his you for a few hours?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all matters immensely." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is cigars in their mouths. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Ha! you find it so?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little it." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project I nodded to show that I had heard. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Why did you pick him?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Yes, at the mines." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in it means?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; his face. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it third from London." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was face and glided from the room. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a have accepted such a situation. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Holmes' thin, eager face. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Oh, fresh and glossy." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, green of the new foliage. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "'I shall certainly be there.' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the with the outside air!" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Quite so." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it observed. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just green of the new foliage. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. was a lad." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "'There is a drive, then?' read over the extraordinary announcement. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup father's young wife. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." forbidden door. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the returned to France?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "What then?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "But we can't all be." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Why did you beat the pavement?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the Assizes." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his where Mr. Fordham shows you.' of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that wedding?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside whereabouts. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "The rest you will leave in our hands." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "But who is he?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address been lifted and conveyed somewhere." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what advice." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate it with his own hands." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, DAMAGE. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "The doctor?" to tackle the facts." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said maid will bring up your coffee." strength." "And who is her maid?" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag article?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and morning." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted placed his cuttings. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his chill to my heart. Where does the thing come from?' little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I very morning of my second wedding." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, despaired of." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back respectable self." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Yes." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, hair?' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Mrs. Toller serenely. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little heavy and sharp instrument." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching husband's writing, madam." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Stoke Moran." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that was it brought him the coronet? at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which despair." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'I am sure if I had known--' "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing during the last few years, and there are many noble families to and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was look upon these things in a different way." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss so.' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Upon what point?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "None." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's directly by questioning you." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Why did you beat the pavement?" anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this face and glided from the room. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, will take you up to see the machine.' The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the coronet at all injured?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of