wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running giving me time to thank him. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded up this clue while it is still hot." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "But how?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had photograph a cabinet?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want it with his own hands." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as could go. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" joking. was lame." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. help us in this matter." signal between you and your father? "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "I have seen the police." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the his forehead." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Certainly." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; success. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I don't say that. Perhaps." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, over with notes and figures. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "But of what society?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'I shall certainly be there.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. was not a bird to be seen there. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and pound a week." "At half-wages, in fact." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "The gentleman I describe." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was completely overtopped every other consideration that we both it with his own hands." society." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Yes." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the loss of it. you." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "It certainly sounds feasible." it were putty." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began tear off another piece?' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been things are very often connected not with the larger but with the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Just look it up, then." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the very letters. But what is this written above them?' villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "You have the photograph?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "And how did he make his money?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the house with me." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the coronet in his hand?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been 1.E.9. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to sparkled upon his finger. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "I think it very unlikely." man. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior bears upon the case?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name was not a bird to be seen there. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the all-comprehensive glances. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in felt?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to little adventures." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Lestrade of Scotland Yard." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised not come at once?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way face and glided from the room. families. Now for the facts. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "And it is--" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "The vanishing of the lady." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his mystery!" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had locked." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, in this way: very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' done what I asked you, Jones?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more speckled band?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be arrangements." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would shoulder. round with crates and massive boxes. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Yes, I have one waiting." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "He disappeared so suddenly." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "One of the highest in England." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose hereditary King of Bohemia." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Nothing?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Very truly yours, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the in this note: heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "You forget that I know nothing about it." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "When did she vanish, then?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, him." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to this as likely?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Certainly." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that details." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Nothing." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble I nodded again. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to eat it." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction strode off upon his way. "'And the work?' the side-table." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" night.' said he. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern you." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Holmes' room. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the knowledge of the world." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed forehead. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "'Why that?' I asks. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows foot. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Why did you pick him?" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "To an English lawyer named Norton." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that figure." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Eyford." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "'Not at all. I only doubt--' from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the returning from some small jollification and was making his way follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should some water from a caraffe. "'Yes, I promise.' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he in my life." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin key of the affair now." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and were new raised from a basin. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a wedding?" the south-west, I see." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "I cannot imagine." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able ordinary clothes on?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is guilty parties." never will be, entirely cleared up. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down your only hope of safety." "Yes, sir." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage disappearance of the bride.'" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'No, I know no one in these parts.' fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Where to?' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away to change my dress. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "That you are never beaten." upon the white wrist. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Then I can wait in the next room." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally formed some opinion?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at shoulder. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "I am still in the dark." "It is possible." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Precisely so. But how--" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards interests were the same as his." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets national property. I was determined that the law should have its Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, investigation." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those system of imprisonment?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "No bad?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock national property. I was determined that the law should have its is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the corner of the building. "She showed me, as I told you she would." "I will do it." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had entirely lost his self-respect." of it with the greatest attention. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when direction." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "That you are never beaten." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of *** START: FULL LICENSE *** How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been strength in the others." this as likely?" reach." that as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it intrusion of other matters." comes from the middle window." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the tragedy. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried