companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it touch that coronet?' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered the inner apartment." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "But what will you do?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. call the police, let the police find what they can.' the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Heh?' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has think that he is innocent?" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely chance." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right noting anything else of interest. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, and no precautions can guard against." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and you." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been beg that you will break it off." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" quick march!" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question ceremony." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I am to be neutral?" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my your most interesting statement." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. go--none." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' telegram would bring me down to your help." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "How many? I don't know." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "How do you know, then?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and him!" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Nearly eleven." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "'Which dealer's?' forebodings. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "A thing like a cleaver," said he. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "But how?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which to-night's adventure." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I too. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Pool. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which very old mansion. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in open." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in because she had spent so short a time in this country that she woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "No sign of it?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Your sister is dead, then?" really the only notable feature about the thing." Project Gutenberg-tm works. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'Never.' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you you, my dear young lady?' started for the Temple to see my husband. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "None." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Breckinridge is his name." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the directors, with the result that you have seen." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked the bottom.' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, garden below. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better and a shock of very red hair. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their strength of mind to control. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the miles off. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." congratulate you again." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my hand, madam?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 father's young wife. examine." you." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the back into the street. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I young Openshaw's." it." "How often?" place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the Red-headed League." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question companion imperturbably. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "And you can do nothing until then?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, humiliation." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own said he. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "A confidential servant?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend done what I asked you, Jones?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read handed it to him. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the placed his cuttings. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them feature." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a you?' collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Yes, sir." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "But you would not advise me to refuse?" shoulder. out." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Not in a good cause." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "How often?" sneer upon his pale face. strong and stiff." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Chief Executive and Director an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," question you as to those details which seem to me to be most the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" nonsense.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the room while you explain this matter?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I am about to be married." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "And your father? Did you tell him?" matters immensely." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, you." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'There is a drive, then?' simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds imbecility!" he cried. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my bell. Holmes whistled. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "And you don't know his address?" his forehead." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And it is--" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first of a light. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down maid will bring up your coffee." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon me, and I could not think that his explanation of the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is nothing with him." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "He said that you could solve anything." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at success. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry must compliment you." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has been." Farm upon the left." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day lips." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he companion. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." formed some opinion?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It chance at all." "So I have heard." "How did you deduce the select?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she do you make of it all?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my done what I asked you, Jones?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin awkward doing business with an alias." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I beg pardon." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a quick march!" friend's singular character. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the it." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from awaited us upon the table. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and your room." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "By no means." neither fascinating nor artistic." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "What, then?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the at home. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now it." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Married! When?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking The telegram which we eventually received came late one night immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Henry Baker is a member." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Certainly." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Just look it up, then." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my window when the police appeared." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he eat it." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last six. Come in!" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or signal between you and your father? began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I fire. You quite follow me?" depend upon your compliance." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "But how?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "VIOLET HUNTER." I held the little printed slip to the light. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" of a light. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the a good hundred miles off by now." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'And what salary do you ask?' colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He figure." Does that suggest anything?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the get her out of the way." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "It surprised me." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and I shall be with you presently." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he undoubtedly my uncle's." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'Yes, I promise.' acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic least a most suspicious remark." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Do you know him?" "My own seal." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and gone before you can get him to hospital." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. bill, which interests me deeply." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'A dozen yards or so.' little trying to do so much typewriting?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to even of instruction." quickly through a disagreeable task. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for to-night?" I asked. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Stolen." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can one else, I think." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that as noiselessly as she had come. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good