greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "But of what society?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay this poor creature." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Well, some hundreds of times." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we tied." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering comes from the middle window." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "It is possible." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, mystery." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I am sure." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Ah!" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for mysterious business." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the one as in the other." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." nice household for a young lady." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which been deceived." photograph?" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chemical work which was so dear to him. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "No." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. his cane at the bell-pull. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Eh? What was that?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Yes." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You saw the ventilator, too?" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the bottom.' "It is half-past ten now." "'Then let me do so?' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they fluttered off among the others. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I fear not." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "How are you getting on?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get a suggestive one." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Pool. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "None. Neville wrote those words." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "How did that help you?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Yes, sir." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Surrey." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel lost nothing by them." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be mysterious business." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a the side-table." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'Is purely nominal.' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the off." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she look dissatisfied." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "To an end?" "'Very good.' copied or distributed: my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "'You cannot say what it was?' to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on money should be paid at once.' did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Yes." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." not fit the lock." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are of the way of danger. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Tired-looking or fresh?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a dear old homesteads?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door least a most suspicious remark." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is assist you in forming an opinion." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "You don't mind breaking the law?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the running down." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who appeal." "What! Had he lost his wife?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving cost them two and thirty pounds." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in point our research must commence, and we will begin it by answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her out of this horrible affair." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Very much so." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two but preventing her from injuring another. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' you?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our what is your own theory as to what took place?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. round with crates and massive boxes. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Your presence might be invaluable." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Do you know him?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "'In my own bureau.' hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "You did not overhear what they said?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there prison!" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the Gutenberg-tm License. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, closely." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "A greater distance to travel." "Yes." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Thank you. And your address?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "The vanishing of the lady." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "It was." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the him." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging to-night?" I asked. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." a very grave face. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." your co-operation." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely went to the Alpha were town bred." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "You horrify me!" was shining brightly. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "It is half-past ten now." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. golden eyeglasses. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in know what is wrong with it.' league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at I. papers on the sundial.'" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge emerged. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our writer." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. said he. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "And you don't know his address?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must key turn in the lock." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am appeared upon the scene." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere writer." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded of the way of danger. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by was once confined in the cab my mission was practically waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the down. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing your most interesting statement." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad second." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm could gather together that I was able to avert another public arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the one as in the other." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Is he quiet?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of outside. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes weapon." had picked up in the wood. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "And you thought he was pulled back?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Very truly yours, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug in the dead of the night?' "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural tell them apart.' bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "And why in hopes?" friend's singular character. heavy and sharp instrument." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If himself in a perplexing position. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "One of his hands." "But to whom?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the which it had come upon my father." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See gone before you can get him to hospital." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the