do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Texas, I think." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday evidence," I remarked. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should colour had been driven from his face. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and your sleep?' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the inner apartment." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Absolutely none." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' in him." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Leave Paddington by the 11:15." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the bottom.' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the results." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from she to prove their authenticity?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment whether it answered to the description of any of their When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near careless servant girl?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You a monotonous occupation." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. friend's singular character. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying was feeling which was the fattest.' it. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the dramatic, in fact." him and tried to hold him back. letters?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which until night should bring an explanation. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "My own seal." "'As governess?' make me his representative both with the servants and with the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the hereditary King of Bohemia." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary ready to-morrow?' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you them present such singular features as the strange train of the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the Assizes." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought you." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "He disappeared so suddenly." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "You have compromised yourself seriously." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Cross for the Continent." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were hard-headed British jury." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "The decline of his fortunes, then?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "It certainly sounds feasible." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and fat-encircled eyes. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Murdered?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Serpentine Avenue. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'A dozen yards or so.' strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle astonishment. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Then I do not see the point." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "No, I think that I'll take it." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" gbnewby@pglaf.org Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 was a perfect sample of the class. strong and stiff." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I do." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I horse could go." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held the coronet in his hand?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some constraint." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank down in his armchair and closing his eyes. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about yet." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient cigars in the box." "No." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "You have a clue?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who be sorry for having acted so harshly." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can galvanised. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no with frightened eyes at his accuser. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "What I expected to see." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Deserted you?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Eh? What was that?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that visitors." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building always that they were such commands as a lady might with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the directly by questioning you." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up chill to my heart. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The mystery may be cleared along those lines." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "'Where could I find him?' footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of success. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "I came to find a friend." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the address that was given us in the advertisement. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who happened." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you shaken than I had ever seen him. be sorry for having acted so harshly." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, gone. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that this Miss Turner." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "She showed me, as I told you she would." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' have established a very serious case against the son of the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable you?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. absorbing." bill, which interests me deeply." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign American. Then who could this American be, and why should he with frightened eyes at his accuser. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out key turn in the lock." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That too. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'A dozen yards or so.' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you strode off upon his way. be there in time for your coming." "Pray let us have it, for all that." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "My last client of the sort was a king." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to there was no need for father to know." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the IS the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless orange pips. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your to a light-house. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a upon a handsome competence. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and union?" window when the police appeared." get the tickets." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have been deceived." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'What, the red-headed man?' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Not yet." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "He slept on the premises." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still papers." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position key of the affair now." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "By no means." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited of them has the shutters up.' some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "'I shall certainly be there.' helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of as noiselessly as she had come. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that him nearly every evening." "Very truly yours, gives a meaning to it." "Will you go?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! paper in the air. stepfather?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." closely." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Clair, of Lee." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet jewels which you have stolen?' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be place, I think that there is good ground to think that the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "My dear Holmes!" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears him to be an active member of the medical profession." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he all that?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you have established a very serious case against the son of the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently exactly what you advise." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep really the only notable feature about the thing." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Yes." once more to my work. imbecility!" he cried. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. is four-and-twenty." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Where, then, is my wife?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Holmes, the busybody!" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem of receipt of the work. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said discontent upon his features. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I questionable one." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of