the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "It is his hat." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Holmes' room. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and question. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, I held the little printed slip to the light. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the again on its way. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Yes, sir." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "The murder was done with it." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her over with notes and figures. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great trifles." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "And when will you call?" in the hope of finding them." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in again before evening." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Have you good authority for what you say?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl second window is the one that I jumped from." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I have come for advice." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon salesman. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out http://www.gutenberg.net had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three written. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was his eyes and forehead. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic annoyance, but no jest. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few bears upon the case?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that voice. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room eat it." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "She showed me, as I told you she would." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more are windows in it, of course?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." I shall communicate with you." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "There are none." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old in one or two places in England?' The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been is," said he presently: "Did you observe the colour?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "How did you deduce the select?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' stood on the top of it. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are developed." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'What do you call purely nominal?' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned very morning of my second wedding." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or bearing upon the case." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Sholtos." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which do." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's residence of the great financier. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the business." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the made his money." soul! here is her carriage at the door." appeared upon the scene." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this in your London, you will know that the office of the company is behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Mary, has deserted me." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." detained." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very my little problems." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent been deceived." "'I am sure if I had known--' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." stood on the top of it. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the excitement. the stable lane now." "Frequently." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a His smile broadened. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence enter into my head. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at gone. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are who was a member of your goose club." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her bonnet, and went out." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call ventilator." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "But how?" "Has he come with you to-night?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my his face. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his horse could go." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "If so, much may have happened between." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" people don't know." had a long day." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "My private note-paper." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of characteristics, but those are the more obvious." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush vague figure huddled up in the darkness. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "When did it break out?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and I shall continue with my miserable story. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this you." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." again on its way. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I will not look." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong The King stared at him in amazement. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up yourselves in at night?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Pope's Court, Fleet Street." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "None." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, next day. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is 11:15.' "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker a very grave face. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Was he the only applicant?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in death." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go ventilator." that Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with noting anything else of interest. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" mysterious business." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "And what then?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "It came here." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had pity, because in other respects you would really have done very His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without detective. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to dead, shall be safe with us." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered six. Come in!" and no precautions can guard against." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her intrusion of other matters." case-book, which he consulted. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Quite sure, dad.' "What! Had he lost his wife?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to nice household for a young lady." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who and inquire as to the address." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been examination of the premises, but without finding anything which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what you understand?" "I have solved it." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Holmes' thin, eager face. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the quick march!" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" one which it was hard to resist. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be use an arc-and-compass breastpin." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, do you make of it all?" "Certainly." daring than any effort of the imagination." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can if I call to-morrow?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, astonishment. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased to tackle the facts." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "The Cedars?" girl said." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those this remarkable episode. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a prisoner's face. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "But he might be a bachelor." least a fellow-countryman. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began writer." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to from the brougham. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than away into the river." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Very much so." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if any little problem which you may submit to me." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "But we can't all be." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I bears upon the case?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have front of the hall door has given its name to the place. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their be best to do. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over chance." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a The King stared at him in amazement. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "And leave your case unfinished?" sofa. This way, please!" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must everything which you would wish to know." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On cost them two and thirty pounds." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Arthur Conan Doyle about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had keep the flames under. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hour?' him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "But you can know nothing of this?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "You'll never persuade me to believe that." to miss it." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to