and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "By all means." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "What is it?" examine." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of introspective fashion. "No sign of it?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and laid it on the table. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "No?" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "You were travelling in the States?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to one which it was hard to resist. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "He is dead," cried several voices. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, a very grave face. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "What steps will you take?" I asked. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I have hopes." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were gigantic client. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable there were one or two details which were new to me. But the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I am about to be married." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Street. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is call for it in person on Monday morning.' so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "And what did you see?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a again on its way. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the stable lane now." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir feature." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink my secret was safe in his possession. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, carpenter." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at trying to your nerves." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Arthur Conan Doyle "'Yes, sir.' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "By no means." them?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'What do you call purely nominal?' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the think that he is innocent?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest union?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil thirty. "But your client--" the very morning of the wedding." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a hair?' fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our States. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, through." call the police, let the police find what they can.' sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" have had none more fantastic than this." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Not in the least." and the colonel ushered me in. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which cup of tea. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. it." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Well?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully was already answered. "Won't it ring?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "That's no good." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" tear off another piece?' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Then I do not see the point." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "The best possible." hair?' "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? danger is over." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be weary and pale-looking. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "You did not overhear what they said?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I have hopes." brandy and water within his reach. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, tail." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution heavy and sharp instrument." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Certainly." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two meanly of me." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from sufficient punishment." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "And the cigar-holder?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in ventilator." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small which it had come upon my father." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and his face. good for you to do.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES unprecedented a position." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage point our research must commence, and we will begin it by yards of it?' a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news taking in every detail of the apartment. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to bed dies. Does not that strike you?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and away into the river." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "No. What a strange idea!" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are McCarthy's innocence. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly spare." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No acted in my house last night?" that, and I came down." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "If I can be of use." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "You have carte blanche." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I have a cab outside." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become outside." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake eavesdroppers?' after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any of the vacancies.' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Yes, I have one waiting." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Tired-looking or fresh?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the running down." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin read it out to me." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to happened." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Does that suggest anything?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Count Von Kramm." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the do you make of it all?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Here?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." there." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "My stepfather's business papers." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "And how did he make his money?" questioning and rather startled gaze. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have had formerly been in part my own. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home passage and a tap at the door. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie if I call to-morrow?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "It came here." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "And did you observe any change in her then?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that strength in the others." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at details." strength." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Witness: It was. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such had formerly been in part my own. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "No, thank goodness, she did not." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She bled considerably." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching was a loud and authoritative tap. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been bears upon the case?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept what is your own theory as to what took place?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the armchair which I pushed forward for him. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." pictures, libraries, or plate. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "That is not always so easy." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to mystery!" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm brandy and water within his reach. hardly wander." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "A thing like a cleaver," said he. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; You want to know what became of those geese?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? October 9, 1890. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your locked. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that said I. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up