to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send to go into your room and bar your shutters?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began writer." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "When did she vanish, then?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of III. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Dark enough and sinister enough." in my life." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was written, and locked the door of the office after me. for its centre. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled in his power. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows definite end. gone. matters immensely." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the was a loud and authoritative tap. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "On Monday." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." most interesting one." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "On your arm?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There strength." married her." you." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." eavesdroppers?' prison!" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'Is purely nominal.' "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save girl said." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the running down." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey despair." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in late!' chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the later, upon the night of May 2nd." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which noble correspondent could be. the bed, and you in that chair." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "What then?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the which we had just quitted. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without strength of mind to control. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced McCarthy's innocence. papers on the sundial.'" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the room while you explain this matter?" "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if are, and they are waiting for us." "'Is purely nominal.' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "You are all wrong." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. gigantic client. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the general public were present, then?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was mystery." "That also I could fathom." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." returning from some small jollification and was making his way said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "When did it break out?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "My dear Holmes!" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid guilty parties." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the suddenly upon us." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. forecastle of an emigrant ship. "How many? I don't know." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he to Leatherhead. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your strange features which were associated with the two crimes which police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Stoke Moran." "You have the photograph?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency unclasping of his long thin hands. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "It's nothing of the kind." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Ah!" maid will bring up your coffee." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined feature." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "At half-wages, in fact." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the general public were present, then?" despaired of." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Have you good authority for what you say?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of assist you in forming an opinion." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to dead, shall be safe with us." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." overpowering excitement and concern. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "'Never,' said I. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," do.' too. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you companion. "Nothing?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "In the cells." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Chief Executive and Director old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "My photograph." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' murdered man." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." over here." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Then you may be so with me." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. but preventing her from injuring another. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is death." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray tell them apart.' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I should like to see him very much." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the forecastle of an emigrant ship. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is that you can jump it.' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "He said too much." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "This concluded the examination of the witness." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Have you her photograph?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk I have it here in my museum." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "But I have heard all that you have heard." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, his knees, staring into the fire. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again legal crime." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That for and were ordered to this address. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "'And the work?' the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "I think that it is very probable." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, new acquaintance to Baker Street. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting and the church but not where the lady lived." "I think it very unlikely." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "But how?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with quickly through a disagreeable task. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Farm upon the left." of it with the greatest attention. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I don't believe it." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went writer." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'I shall certainly be there.' to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements a few minutes he said that it would be all right. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your strength in the others." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "No." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. south, for the country is more deserted there." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of up this clue while it is still hot." you." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful of receipt of the work. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Only as much as we can deduce." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What begin with, and I had not got mine yet." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away little adventures." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the