is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect down from London to inquire more deeply into it." in my life." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "'Never,' said I. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all call it cruel." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "The doctor?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which gone. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and files of the old papers, following the future career of every have been better. It is all right." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off hair?' dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Serpentine Avenue. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Nothing?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "And how have you succeeded?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" in. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. events, Mr. Windibank!" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Was there a secret marriage?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "He said that you could solve anything." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, thought that she would have been so carried away." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "If I can be of use." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number papers must be those that are destroyed.' what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Leave Paddington by the 11:15." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in opened the door, and slipped through. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Where, then?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Proceed, then." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in province." chill to my heart. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into assist you in forming an opinion." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which trifles." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while you do it in twenty minutes!' is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how whether it answered to the description of any of their I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt passage and a tap at the door. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Won't it ring?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of all-comprehensive glances. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought tied." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside in darkness. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger and your relations to her." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." in the port of London." "'Most admirably.' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the roots. "You are all wrong." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one them?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to trifles." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, points to suicide?" the running down." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Then you may entirely rely on me." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to his face which made him a very different person to the round, public press." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. congratulate you again." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. papers." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and locked. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the three of the beryls in it, was missing. the dangers which encompass me." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call been deceived." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off writer." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At bonnet, and went out." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of with her." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that other lovers by making love himself." Literary Archive Foundation tied." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." to that open window." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a beyond words. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There front of the hall door has given its name to the place. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to should be taken.' firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his likely to be some crony of the landlady's." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Witness: I must still refuse. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "The King of Scandinavia." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would distinguish the words: together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their towards the blaze. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of disturbance in my wife." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of very peculiar words of the dying woman?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. for securing the situation." out." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce would apply.' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. over part of the map. "What do you read?" on in his house." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than into her hand at the door and which lured her within their across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the warnings." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon call the police, let the police find what they can.' and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and arms and began to sob in a high treble key. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their chair. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Always." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from from the brougham. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "And from a noble client?" "I promise," said Holmes. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, your only hope of safety." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an your room." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily tapping his fingers upon the table. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "It is possible." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom intrusion of other matters." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "'Yes, I promise.' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever suggested at once that there must be a communication between the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It is to him that this trophy belongs." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for use an arc-and-compass breastpin." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to friends, not even his own brother. "To an end?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Indeed! Whose, then?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "I am sure." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. here." nonsense.' American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you danger is over." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Your sister is dead, then?" wedding?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" to talk it over. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "What will you do, then?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and new duties?' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could nights." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' galvanised. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the money should be paid at once.' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can or in danger--" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Always." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning breakfast?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "And how?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "My dear Holmes!" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. only touch the interest." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and have got?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered hands. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be present." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out that I may have something better before very many minutes are father's place of business?" "Proceed, then." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat you." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our written. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking neither fascinating nor artistic." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I came to find a friend." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after searched, without anything being found which could incriminate lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and