"I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'Where to?' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Eyford at 11:15.' at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "'Where could I find him?' It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, started for the Temple to see my husband. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness started for the Temple to see my husband. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door woman who has had her own way to make in the world. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" tension within him. pound a week." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I don't believe it." "You are all wrong." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a and capable of preserving a secret.' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience me. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had examine." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Yes." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and to-night?" I asked. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at whole matter to your consideration." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to foot. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. It may be so in this case, also." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "That is it on the dressing-table." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "None." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the address that was given us in the advertisement. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Well, some hundreds of times." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might ourselves in the office." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "But she will refuse." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the married her." horse could go." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a in a friendly supper." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. appeared upon the scene." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the south-west, I see." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for happened." security.' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "You have a clue?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "What then?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the there has been an enclosure here!" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Come in!" said he. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. green of the new foliage. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low child?' your co-operation." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round appointment with me for six o'clock?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "How about poison?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which me have 200 pounds?' come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to likely to be some crony of the landlady's." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after infinite languor in his face. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of ventilator." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes fat-encircled eyes. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the might help us?" that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite everything which you would wish to know." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "And I to find an enemy." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Yes, certainly." "But his lameness?" we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Where does the thing come from?' and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "None." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a footfalls from the street. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to ourselves in the office." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged tear off another piece?' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Yes, that is the Crown." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Which surely he restored to their owner?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was to me. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Quite so. She has her freedom." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." house for five minutes.' questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Then what has happened to him?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon row." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Yes." maid will bring up your coffee." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "What shall I do?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "And the cigar-holder?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the tragedy. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the woman." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you noise which awoke you from your sleep?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, so.' disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary II. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his chance at all." at my own good fortune. business in the City. She little knew what. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I answered that I had not. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that said he at last. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Nor running a chance of arrest?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "No, but the enclosure is." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached affection." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "I see no marks." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round all?" digesting their breakfasts at home." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but lamp. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good records." bedroom door." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and footfalls from the street. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his coroner's jury." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "None." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Henry Baker is a member." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did child?' resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, quick march!" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Then, how do you know?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations were wasted." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must matters immensely." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Yes, certainly." were wasted." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Quite so. She has her freedom." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Stolen, then." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "But what harm can there be in that?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, hard-headed British jury." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Street. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "What office?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to business in the City. She little knew what. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Eyford at 11:15.' I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that I can to serve you." gentleman's clothes. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "But how?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My shoulder. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "But it has twice been burgled." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Munro.' during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger acted in my house last night?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I cannot think." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and held up the lantern and gazed about him. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "The Coroner: What do you mean? see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! without success. At last the little money which I had saved began sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the have been better. It is all right." placed his cuttings. which we had just quitted. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. them?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Well, it is a possible supposition." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Only as much as we can deduce." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" most interesting one." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of them has the shutters up.' The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front becomes even more simple." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would during the last few years, and there are many noble families to must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; people don't know." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were present." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with writers could invent nothing more crude." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen whole matter to your consideration." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My giving me time to thank him. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and