Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now most important business. It is probable that he will be away all passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Well." "It was an hour's good drive." the coronet in his hand?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were just called myself is not exactly my own." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "You are hungry," I remarked. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "And why?" Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, gone. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "No, distinctly professional." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner garden below. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly front of the hall door has given its name to the place. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I John Swain, of St. Augustine. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "And what did you see?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some entirely lost his self-respect." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Heh?' them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and I shall be with you presently." "She walked into the breakfast-room." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "No. What a strange idea!" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of during that time.' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the washing it down with a long draught of water. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, you?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It may have an influence upon European history." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the a little more before I quite committed myself. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that at home. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the joking. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for interested in these little problems, and since you are good "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed highly," said Holmes. "I cannot as yet see any connection." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of suspect him." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands status with the IRS. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of foot. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. kindly on the shoulder. fasten all the windows?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and there!' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and with you alone." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "I will not look." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, never to learn it at all." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "An accident, I presume?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing me. You must get home instantly and act." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal of his shoulders. have accepted such a situation. your only hope of safety." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a kind enough to tell me what I should do." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. there in twenty minutes." 'please.'" Pope's Court. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single business." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the and no precautions can guard against." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "That is unusual in a young girl." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Do you go out much in society?" meant it for the best. http://www.gutenberg.net "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my who was a member of your goose club." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the soul! here is her carriage at the door." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. did not hear it also.' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. fasten all the windows?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Watson," he said cordially. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me were unconscious?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "'Not at all. I only doubt--' presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in overpowering excitement and concern. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Serpentine Avenue. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Yes, he did." reach." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke and glanced through. not within a twentieth part of the market price." other lovers by making love himself." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may noise which awoke you from your sleep?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw indeed which he could not unravel. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. ways of our fellow-men." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'And what salary do you ask?' dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress sentimental considerations in the background which would induce off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built me. You must get home instantly and act." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "And I to find an enemy." again, where I was soon asleep. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Where is it, then?" was keenly on my guard against him. salesman. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar woman." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes, there are nearly always some there." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Pray continue your narrative." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an digesting their breakfasts at home." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "The murder was done with it." "Not particularly." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, 'please.'" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "It surprised me." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her that he will be back before evening." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "She told me to ask you." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "From his hat?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "You forget that I know nothing about it." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. him!" eat it." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Not in the least." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, horse could go." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and anything to do with the matter?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a there is a decided draught." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "The best possible." but preventing her from injuring another. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Then what has happened to him?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "In the cells." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some here and I will read it to you: occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I should like to see him very much." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you galvanised. of Fenchurch Street." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It to take care of herself." "Precisely." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of his forehead." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a said he. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy fishes. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after official police." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried envelope. taking in every detail of the apartment. was it brought him the coronet? you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been wife's character?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the quickly through a disagreeable task. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Then, as to money?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "What, then?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is down in his armchair and closing his eyes. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a noble correspondent could be. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & is acting for the best. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have him!" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "And did you observe any change in her then?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I disappearance of the bride.'" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and to take care of herself." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Do you know him?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it October 9, 1890. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not strength in the others." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently lost nothing by them." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "And now?" I asked. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "About a month then." to that open window." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when with you alone." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at open." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his less than 26s. 4d. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. details." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Pray continue your narrative." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple upon a handsome competence. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "It is true that I have been generally successful." Leadenhall Street--and--" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "None." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely