could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood this as likely?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. heavily into it. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows daring than any effort of the imagination." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed fled together." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Yes." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew me what he had done with the three missing stones. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper she slowly sank and died without having recovered her peculiar to him. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Entirely." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right him. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a if only as a check to my own memory." unprofitable." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his this as likely?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "But your client--" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. sneer upon his pale face. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my in a very precise fashion." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. to take care of herself." future lives." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "No, my brougham is waiting." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You just ask you whether you had heard it.' are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias six. Come in!" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "How did you trace it, then?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the enough to aid us in our search." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent be best to do. "Here?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the himself to hunt down. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Farm upon the left." presented more singular features than that which was associated somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than child?' "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "No." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Miss Holder?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place point in the dark hollow of his hand. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "You have it, sir, just as it happened." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It he bowed and left the room without another word. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "You don't mind breaking the law?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "And your mother is alive?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. something of him before." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the back to my heart. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of characteristics, but those are the more obvious." everything which you would wish to know." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And What do you deduce from it?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I was mad--insane." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "In answer to an advertisement." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you other means.' fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the What do you deduce from it?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring of the vacancies.' "She will not sell." against a man in the prime of life?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an taking in every detail of the apartment. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of II. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked see a sister of mine apply for." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "I have a cab outside." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will His name is Francis Prosper." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "It is possible." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up his wife has ceased to love him." business came to an end." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the morning and make my own way in the world.' concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you whole matter to your consideration." pound a week." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Then how many are there?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa my secret was safe in his possession. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for peculiar to him. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the station." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence did not hear it also.' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "'What are you doing there?' he asked. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "A greater distance to travel." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "And what did you learn from him?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for approach us with offers to donate. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly better in every way that they should make their position a little "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it your room." "Were they all fastened this morning?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most have been better. It is all right." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it all-comprehensive glances. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a writer." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there brain must have something in it." generous with you in money matters.' rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before plantation.' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a green of the new foliage. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know waste of energy." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "But what harm can there be in that?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. License. You must require such a user to return or and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Certainly not.' "Quite so. She has her freedom." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the coroner come to?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "But we can't all be." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that place, I think that there is good ground to think that the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Thank you. And your address?" have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did hour?' waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "He slept on the premises." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." derbies." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Ten will be early enough." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" him." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided south, for the country is more deserted there." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have coroner's jury." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean forecastle of an emigrant ship. "No. What a strange idea!" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "In answer to an advertisement." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Indeed! Whose, then?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his your room." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the of them has the shutters up.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under man. I know him from the photograph." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called one else, I think." leaning back in his chair. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and of the vacancies.' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Dr. Becher's." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have new duties?' the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and cost them two and thirty pounds." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old photograph?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." beg that you will break it off." "I will do it." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "No, distinctly professional." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "You have the photograph?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point together. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I have come for advice." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "I cannot think." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be to tell." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the on re-entering her father's house?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' copied or distributed: "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Miss Holder?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our like that before?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to fasten all the windows?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. London for the present?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from make me his representative both with the servants and with the for its centre. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." indeed which he could not unravel. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "One of his hands." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Was there a secret marriage?" for the market.' "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away least a most suspicious remark." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming which we had just quitted. matter over." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind cause to be." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, an introduction to him?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes writer." "No bad?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Ten will be early enough." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "No?" details." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "It is a murder, then?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. McCarthy." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "My stepfather's business papers." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "And I to find an enemy." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I was afraid that you were engaged." me. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down.