"You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Yes, sir." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." again, where I was soon asleep. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to instincts rose up against that laugh. learned something! Where are the gems?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from to have been novel and of interest." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "9th. McCauley cleared. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "But how did you gain them?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "My private note-paper." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then dear old homesteads?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "I will get her to show me." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited you do it in twenty minutes!' of Mr. Rucastle's." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she lamp in his hand. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the to talk it over. meant." him to be an active member of the medical profession." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the you?" is worth.' "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss money should be paid at once.' vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. with frightened eyes at his accuser. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a thin legs towards the fire. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the roots. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Serpentine Avenue. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It of receipt of the work. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face shadow pass over his face as I spoke. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. wedding?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose to miss it." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was sake, don't!" occupations.' and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of his shoulders. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business October 9, 1890. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot as the one I chose?' faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, bled considerably." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Well." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the even of instruction." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." of Fenchurch Street." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried to-night's adventure." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the daring than any effort of the imagination." "By no means." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "But to whom?" families. Now for the facts. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive exactly what you advise." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "And sit in the dark?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. detained." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot of the efforts of the United States government and of the better cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'You cannot say what it was?' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Can I be of assistance?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "The landlord of the Alpha." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." as this. Pray let me have the details." directors, with the result that you have seen." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off she has been waylaid. There has been no result." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself tear off another piece?' the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own a suggestive one." his cane at the bell-pull. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that bled considerably." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE helping a boy to put up the shutters. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the stable lane now." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing points to suicide?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable them?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his my former friend and companion. crime." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of kind enough to tell me what I should do." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Holmes' thin, eager face. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at enter Dr. Roylott's room." what these perils are?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the night.' Farm upon the left." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang important." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in clanging. observed. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have 1.F. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I will try. What is it?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Can I be of assistance?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my tell him that I know him to be innocent." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. beyond words. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "It surprised me." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle II. crackling voice. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Precisely." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "'Certainly,' I answered. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of swore that no one else had been in the front room during the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "But he might be a bachelor." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all one of the states of the Union." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Witness: Nothing definite. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, details." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Of what day?" easy-going way." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt conclusions. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which interested in these little problems, and since you are good of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we it." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Then what has happened to him?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, the inquest, and which are worth considering." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. London for the present?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found shadow pass over his face as I spoke. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the house with me." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Yes. He waved his hands." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now that, and I came down." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." like that before?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Two days later this same performance was gone through under sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Never to return." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "It was." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." of receipt of the work. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "My Mary? Impossible!" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the of receipt of the work. upon an income of about 60 pounds." direction." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Of what day?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "What, then, did Peterson do?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So children over to America with him, so that I found myself without away to you." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will rooms." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how strong reason behind." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled call it cruel." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Pope's Court, Fleet Street." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the which we had just quitted. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you perplexity from it to my illustrious client. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'Certainly,' I answered. "'It is locked up,' I answered. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the loss of it. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small felt the room to be a little close.' coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Pray do so." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may young Openshaw's." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might down from London to inquire more deeply into it." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' crowd. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close door?" his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon joking. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not wall." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Which are?" "Of what?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to a light-house. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "But not more so than I to find you." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger meant." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter