warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William direction." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "The rest you will leave in our hands." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Have you her photograph?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "She walked into the breakfast-room." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. hopeless attempt at recovering them." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other tightly behind him. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us next day. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "The murder was done with it." for its centre. "'A dozen yards or so.' body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" ashen face. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "That also I could fathom." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You don't mind breaking the law?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand gbnewby@pglaf.org were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A floor. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little we went to search for him, face downward in a little here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. if I call to-morrow?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "It looks newer than the other things?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant hurried by. annoyance, but no jest. upon the shelf for the interim." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "But what will you do?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to down. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "But it has twice been burgled." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to rat could hardly pass through." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that could not account in any way for the presence of the missing through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off discontent upon his features. over with notes and figures. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save at home. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" fire. You quite follow me?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do me where it went to?" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every himself to hunt down. dates and names. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. results." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you you." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, criminal. We have already had experience of such." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the locked." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more that you wished to speak to me?' Stoke Moran." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the future lives." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case away to you." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any returned to France?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the husband's writing, madam." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." cheerful." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as window when the police appeared." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "No." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his must compliment you." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'Ten to two.' "You are all wrong." wedding?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Her father is very rich?" "Come in!" said he. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and I held the little printed slip to the light. compunction about shooting them down." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I cannot as yet see any connection." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I colonel looking down at me. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had that you wished to speak to me?' will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "How did you trace it, then?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in think that he is innocent?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Never." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the note?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "What are they?" know all about it," he snarled. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "I was sure that I might rely on you." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have washing it down with a long draught of water. lumber-room." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "And your mother is alive?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "The knees of his trousers." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it at my own good fortune. power." Holmes. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in said I. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' fact, we may call it conclusive." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up which are rolled in Rotterdam." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "None. Neville wrote those words." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought bachelor.' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position to a light-house. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. overpowering excitement and concern. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. had a long day." the salesman. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive sentimental considerations in the background which would induce astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "What do you mean?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is used to be." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him not, dad?" she asked. "Ha! you find it so?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Pope's Court. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding be sorry for having acted so harshly." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. be best to do. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master once more to my work. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me geese which you supplied to the Alpha." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's tell them apart.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "What shall I do?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "So I am. Very much so." gigantic client. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the armchair which I pushed forward for him. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Then what has happened to him?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was article?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he kindly on the shoulder. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and visitors." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said that I can to serve you." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "But you would not advise me to refuse?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," himself in a perplexing position. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "From his hat?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. chamber." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family During two years I have had three consultations and one small "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm in a very precise fashion." "How did he come?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on 'I should be able to look after that for you.' note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day see me here to avoid scandal." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no tell me that you intended to go into harness." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all breakfast and whispered something to her husband. comes from the middle window." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw becomes even more simple." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them I was concerned in it." assist you in forming an opinion." death." Munro.' out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, me where it went to?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his gives a meaning to it." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "He said too much." hands. "That was it, sir." which it had come upon my father." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and wall." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Yes, sir." "You have the photograph?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which dates and names. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the