lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "'Where could I find him?' tied." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the warnings." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "What then?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship wedding?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram felt?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he ventilator." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he know that the truth is known." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Can I be of assistance?" unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round noise which awoke you from your sleep?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the are, and they are waiting for us." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Dr. Becher's." business at Coburg Square is serious." any." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "And Irene Adler?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" heavy and sharp instrument." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had chair. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. of his shoulders. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance I leave." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my that you can jump it.' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Very well, sir. And this stone?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. least a most suspicious remark." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as ran thus: Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between wedding?" spare." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the upon the white wrist. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Leave Paddington by the 11:15." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips away to you." "Not in the least." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "But how?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "And did you observe any change in her then?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "She showed me, as I told you she would." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I front of me. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Indeed! Whose, then?" "No legal papers or certificates?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its your troubles." that threaten you." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his the night.' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and morning." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she wall." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the coronet in his hand?" "You have carte blanche." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "That is unusual in a young girl." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "And how in the world did you find them?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Where, then, is my wife?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I and all of them with the keenest interest. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the invisible to me," I remarked. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is hand, madam?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "That's no good." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock man. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat definite end. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: light and attacked it." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project so far?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." back into the street. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "In the cells." "By no means." Where does the thing come from?' both be extremely obliged.' "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. spark where all is dark to me." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be with some details as to your case." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working This is what he says: the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "10th. John Swain cleared. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker him. father's young wife. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "What office?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the King without delay." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face with the outside air!" "About a month then." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "From his hat?" both be extremely obliged.' It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, this as likely?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she bachelor.' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Yes." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "I am armed." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case with her." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. there was no need for father to know." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "'It is locked up,' I answered. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Watson," he said cordially. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to you, my dear young lady?' "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary III. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror towards the blaze. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "I am sure." power." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the delirious. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, to a more successful conclusion." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for The summons was a brief and urgent one. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Stolen, then." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; three fields round his house, and there he would take his you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "How often?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into to his chemical studies. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' affection." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." to tell." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy was a loud and authoritative tap. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. noble correspondent could be. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "No, I am descending." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "What, then?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "The best possible." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; himself to tell his story. at a side door. lumber-room." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's said I. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm interests were the same as his." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there it right.' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and have this put in the evening papers." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Whose house is it?" meant." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Very murderous indeed." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Not in a good cause." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the hour." "10th. John Swain cleared. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the dramatic, in fact." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the himself to tell his story. case-book, which he consulted. than to us. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Seven!" I answered. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the a little more before I quite committed myself. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "What I expected to see." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the