Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding married her." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "My Mary? Impossible!" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Pray do so." prison!" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Could he throw no light?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his to me. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself pictures, libraries, or plate. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project take the flies, but not before." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. instituted." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with she to prove their authenticity?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, eat it." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence despaired of." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Precisely." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "A greater distance to travel." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of promised to bring home. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from bonnet, and went out." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' village inn over there?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If fear." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "But it has twice been burgled." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend her also." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "What will you do, then?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the child." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My four million human beings all jostling each other within the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering What do you deduce from it?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to It may be so in this case, also." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "What, then, did Peterson do?" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she crowd. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming child?' almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed my secret was safe in his possession. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I should be immensely obliged to you." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the child." "'Yes, sir.' business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. keep the flames under. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "You are all wrong." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been shoulder. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a had picked up in the wood. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in whole matter to your consideration." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes could go. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Never to return." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "No, thank goodness, she did not." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short certainly do as you advise." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Quite so. She has her freedom." always that they were such commands as a lady might with whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "What is it?" "The knees of his trousers." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found for the market.' breakfast?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Precisely so. But how--" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Of Friday, June 19th." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes that?' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him congratulate you again." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case distance from the station, and there we found the young lady charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "And Irene Adler?" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and danger is over." letters?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Yes." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A union?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless touch that coronet?' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you her also." within hail.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Quite so." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend developed." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. unprofitable." States. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Very murderous indeed." is four-and-twenty." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. an introduction to him?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all be there in time for your coming." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the man. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich The King stared at him in amazement. felt the room to be a little close.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Yes, it was gone.' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "His face fell immediately. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in brain must have something in it." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has presume?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his one of the states of the Union." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will do.' "Oh, fresh and glossy." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. burst out into a roar of laughter. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a distinguish the words: "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much will find little credit to be gained out of this case." house for five minutes.' Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "You have carte blanche." "Ample." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose appeal." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'Oh, no.' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which coat-tails." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "'There is a drive, then?' conceal it?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Not in a good cause." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." as noiselessly as she had come. "Then I am your man." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I answered that I had not. gives a meaning to it." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his cause to be." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of gbnewby@pglaf.org "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency fasten all the windows?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly before the coroner and the police-court." all that?" and inquire as to the address." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. think you a quite exceptional woman." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is friends, not even his own brother. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger had formerly been in part my own. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, have an American origin." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the you." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Where to?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my distinguish the words: writer." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. three fields round his house, and there he would take his as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, pierced for earrings?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "But you were on a friendly footing?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in neither fascinating nor artistic." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I think it very unlikely." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "What steps will you take?" I asked. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Yes." people don't know." himself to hunt down. "Yes, the wine-cellar." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "But how will you look?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's which our visitor detailed to us. showing my impatience. to Leatherhead. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "No legal papers or certificates?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Yesterday." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. foresight and the moral retrogression?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and second." get her out of the way." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in over with notes and figures. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and was not a bird to be seen there. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that situation." humiliation." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Tell me all about it,' said I. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped might help us?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the best of training." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the