whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Never." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here how narrow had been my escape. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held the morning and make my own way in the world.' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of she to prove their authenticity?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see way in everything. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "But his lameness?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way never came back." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "But how will you look?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand that I may have something better before very many minutes are allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Eh? What was that?" His name is Francis Prosper." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than go--none." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which any." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Never." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "'Very good.' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The King of Scandinavia." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said rose-bushes. My friend smiled. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "'Certainly not.' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless tell me that you intended to go into harness." "He slept on the premises." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that disappearance of these gems?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I sufficient punishment." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "That was it, sir." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Come in!" said he. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building tell him that I know him to be innocent." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper enter Dr. Roylott's room." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us astonishment. said I. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features it." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the prepare for the new role I have to play." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small everything which you would wish to know." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Stolen." "I cannot imagine." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Yes, but only for you and me." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All helping a boy to put up the shutters. his forehead." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do John Swain, of St. Augustine. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is happened." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Here?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly made his money." "Thank you. And your address?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Certainly, madam." then?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." look upon these things in a different way." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the general public were present, then?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "He might." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Can I be of assistance?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I humiliation." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Then what has happened to him?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we IS "Murdered?" me. You must get home instantly and act." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, little trying to do so much typewriting?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been for the market.' showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. be. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been address. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off see a sister of mine apply for." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only during that time.' then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Not yet." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "No, finished." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." distinguish the words: trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular had picked up in the wood. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I observed. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I upon an income of about 60 pounds." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Edgeware Road. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe hardly wander." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, up this clue while it is still hot." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the woman." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "The Coroner: What do you mean? world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, long narrative. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly once more for Briony Lodge. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, upon the white wrist. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "And now?" I asked. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news you for a few hours?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "And from a noble client?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "My stepfather's business papers." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "I cannot as yet see any connection." examine." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "That you are never beaten." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Doctor, of the paper and the date." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow make me his representative both with the servants and with the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We her also." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. maiden herself was most instructive." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in a suggestive one." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern opportunities to fix the problem. all?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." will not take me long to tell. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. His smile broadened. Stoke Moran." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to surprise her." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an was the fact that his father should, according to his account, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Certainly." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, despaired of." interested in these little problems, and since you are good when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "I shall most certainly do so." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be made his money." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of jewels which you have stolen?' "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this than to us. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "And what did you learn from him?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "You did not overhear what they said?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Quite so. She has her freedom." "BALLARAT." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I quite distinctive." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Edgeware Road. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "My dear Holmes!" outside. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most where we are going." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Then, how do you know?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Gutenberg-tm License. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon plantation.' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door handed it to him. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. prepare for the new role I have to play." "And leave your case unfinished?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at and no precautions can guard against." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "No." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the your own bird, so if you wish--" she might be summoned. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a room. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Then I shall certainly come." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of shall not find me ungrateful." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest society." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had are, and they are waiting for us." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the License. You must require such a user to return or 1.F. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Yes, it was twisted." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the