It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you mystery!" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "He said that you could solve anything." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism whatever might befall. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "But I am all in the dark." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so really the only notable feature about the thing." Chief Executive and Director "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father sofa. This way, please!" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and roused himself from his reverie. like that before?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without will he say when he returns?" Lee, in the county of Kent." "Not yet." call the police, let the police find what they can.' here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they colour had been driven from his face. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "I cannot tell." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes him to be an active member of the medical profession." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Ten will be early enough." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." know that the truth is known." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall outside. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four tell him that I know him to be innocent." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "No, distinctly professional." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "What! You do not mean bodies?" "How many? I don't know." village inn over there?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. few hundred pounds.' "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Tired-looking or fresh?" you do it in twenty minutes!' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my joking. morning." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town in him." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open ill-usage at the hands of fortune. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that do.' the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was do." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "I will do it." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Won't it ring?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Because he was handy and would come cheap." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "He said too much." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a said he. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third gone. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I should wish to." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "What then?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "No, thank goodness, she did not." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Yes." gbnewby@pglaf.org will not take me long to tell. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. hour." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And did you observe any change in her then?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." danger is over." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted License. You must require such a user to return or "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'What, the red-headed man?' "A call for help, you thought?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here go back?" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in some place of shelter and let the county police know what has forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Why serious?" weighed down with some great anxiety. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "And how?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched outside." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "But she could not love him." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me will he say when he returns?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her figure." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. think that any burglar could have done. lost nothing by them." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'Ample.' "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these dramatic, in fact." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. to-night's adventure." "What of the rat, then?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to a more successful conclusion." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he union?" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "And why?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check client, rising. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "No, but the enclosure is." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "But his lameness?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs it. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. present." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat back to my heart. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "But how did you gain them?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my photograph a cabinet?" round and wave him away like that.' all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this remarked. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." 1.F. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "And why in hopes?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a have accepted such a situation. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to happened." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Where is it, then?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady allusion to a rat. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and affair. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the King without delay." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Holmes." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. tell them apart.' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Yes." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the mystery may be cleared along those lines." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting chamber." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. ourselves in the office." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Was he the only applicant?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Eyford at 11:15.' disturbance in my wife." entirely lost his self-respect." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and a shock of very red hair. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of very old mansion. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "I have solved it." you." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce public press." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much this remarkable episode. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something late." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum that before taking the final step I should like to submit the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the coronet at all injured?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All copied or distributed: The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the best of training." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Can I be of assistance?" wedding?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be village inn over there?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of status with the IRS. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the really the only notable feature about the thing." about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She south, for the country is more deserted there." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "No good news?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the written. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes will not take me long to tell. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I tear off another piece?' opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? advice." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "My dear Holmes!" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the late." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it in this note: of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "But she will refuse." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I am sure." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal wedding?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered nonsense.' walking." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "'Which dealer's?' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the which are rolled in Rotterdam." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he singular points about the case. What did the police think of the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I guessed as much." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Oh, fresh and glossy." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The bonnet, and went out." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite article?" fire. You quite follow me?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a and prosperity to your house. Good-night." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Why? What do you mean?" back alive. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the returning from some small jollification and was making his way