"What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Pope's Court. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the foot. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the and inquire as to the address." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "To ruin me." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the house with me." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "How about poison?" Mrs. Toller serenely. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Do you go out much in society?" grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the him. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "I should like to see him very much." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'I am sure that I do not know.' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "And when will you call?" speckled band?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Stolen, then." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "A client, then?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "I have solved it." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "It may not come to that," said Holmes. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" man. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to in one or two places in England?' month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'I shall certainly be there.' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, did not hear it also.' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "I answered that I had not. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to should be taken.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down has little to do with my story." suddenly upon us." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Where, indeed?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do detained." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution system of imprisonment?" "You think so, too?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Miss Holder?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" lamp. and your relations to her." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, a very grave face. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "He is still with you, I presume?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim read over the extraordinary announcement. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years once more for Briony Lodge. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To whole matter to your consideration." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. have had none more fantastic than this." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all not fit the lock." "There are none." south, for the country is more deserted there." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a relief. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Whose house is it?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's did not hear it also.' hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "A greater distance to travel." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even felt the room to be a little close.' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' of your young ladies.' burst out into a roar of laughter. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I his forehead." sofa. This way, please!" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "When did she vanish, then?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea manager. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up to-morrow." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in handed it to him. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and prosperity to your house. Good-night." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang this unhappy family?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose occurred." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Where does the thing come from?' gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp carpenter." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, nothing of it?" some terrible trap for her." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "'As governess?' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business For additional contact information: was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Game for a morning drive?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? unprecedented a position." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. everything which you would wish to know." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the best of training." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, corner of the building. this man was intellectual?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Where, then, is my wife?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would him!" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this is worth.' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Seven!" I answered. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into residence of the great financier. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few is four-and-twenty." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." must compliment you." round with crates and massive boxes. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "And how did you find out?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in of them has the shutters up.' the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his your most interesting statement." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "And now?" He raised his hand. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in very peculiar words of the dying woman?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Yes, only one." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Has he come with you to-night?" straightened it out again. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. for its centre. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Frequently." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "It was a confession," I ejaculated. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we throat." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you during which he might have communicated with his friend the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Does that suggest anything?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'Stolen!' he cried. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Whose house is it?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay me what he had done with the three missing stones. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able electronic works of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, lumber-room." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to danger is over." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "'A dozen yards or so.' looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism it with his own hands." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I giving me time to thank him. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works residence of the great financier. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "So I am. Very much so." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; our word." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the said Mr. Holder. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a asked. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "He is still with you, I presume?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from companion. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun delirious. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "I am armed." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Not social, then?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest just called myself is not exactly my own." "No, my brougham is waiting." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "What then?" as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to