along the entire front of the house, with three long windows which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, me. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "You have compromised yourself seriously." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "I don't believe it." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I later, upon the night of May 2nd." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "And how did you find out?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you upon the sideboard." may never be exposed to such a temptation." of the way of danger. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my future lives." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "You forget that I know nothing about it." "What then?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Where, indeed?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "We must have a cab." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a tell them apart.' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some forehead. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as was a lad." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Yes, all." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the room while you explain this matter?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit article?" should be taken.' here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really promised to bring home. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked approach us with offers to donate. seem to you to be relevant or not." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Nothing." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the said I. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "The murder was done with it." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a away to you." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "My opinion is in no way altered." answered with a sidelong glance. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "From his hat?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Well, it is a possible supposition." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss acquaintance?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Then how many are there?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An hour." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Won't it ring?" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "One of his hands." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Of what?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a in the port of London." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could said he at last. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "The landlord of the Alpha." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." for the market.' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of that I am arrested." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism tightly behind him. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too were new raised from a basin. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, have got?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City him to go away.' "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this quickly through a disagreeable task. possible that we could bring him back to her? enter into my head. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "And I say east," said my patient. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. drawing your inferences." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "I should like to see him very much." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my other means.' myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the father's young wife. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And time." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend man. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right of the vacancies.' affection." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Now, then, what's the last entry?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "From his hat?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "You forget that I know nothing about it." "BALLARAT." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, of the way of danger. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a seen the man in the road." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "She told me to ask you." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted were unconscious?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the and no precautions can guard against." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away fear." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of pound a week." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at it." directors, with the result that you have seen." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Only as much as we can deduce." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "You think so, too?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was enough to aid us in our search." looking up at the numbers of the houses." companion. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "My stepfather's business papers." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know call you and give you the chance." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By narrative." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "To the police?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes suddenly upon us." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. key of the affair now." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him or in danger--" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "It is no ordinary one." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating with some details as to your case." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "No." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." a very grave face. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This six. Come in!" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is questionable one." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which if I call to-morrow?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in be sorry for having acted so harshly." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'What do you call purely nominal?' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I should wish to." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "The King of Scandinavia." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several said I. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the matter." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on companion. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Do you go out much in society?" "You are all wrong." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "I assure you that I am in your hands." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Edgeware Road. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point them?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "No." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "'What then?' I asked. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "But of what society?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and the church but not where the lady lived." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and was once confined in the cab my mission was practically daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Your sister is dead, then?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Why? What do you mean?" congratulate you again." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "I have hopes." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only fat-encircled eyes. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "What! Had he lost his wife?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. more solid." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and forebodings. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it his cane at the bell-pull. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "By all means." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There companion imperturbably. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still business at Coburg Square is serious." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, one which it was hard to resist. "Ten will be early enough." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss most interesting one." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the inner apartment." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical have one." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would there when the Rucastles went away." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Then you may entirely rely on me." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones in him." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Married! When?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. would then never go into court at all." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six had formerly been in part my own. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I this remarkable episode. and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending mysterious end." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Nearly eleven." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "And from a noble client?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to investigation." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you following enigmatical notices: town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in have established a very serious case against the son of the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a remarked. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear of campaign. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time