"for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. photograph a cabinet?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." I nodded again. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being companion quietly. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "She showed me, as I told you she would." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing I leave." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Really! You surprise me." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and effective." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'Quite sure, dad.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her that possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By voice, changing her seat as requested. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what too. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Dr. Becher's." and a shock of very red hair. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such said I. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural standing smiling on the door-step. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "I was mad--insane." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Does that suggest anything?" woman." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already when you have done it." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover very old mansion. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or child?' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "No." colonel looking down at me. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "At what time?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the his wife has ceased to love him." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever appeared upon the scene." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my October 9, 1890. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must depend upon my doing so.' facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "It was a confession," I ejaculated. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me meant it for the best. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Cross for the Continent." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite floor. the dangers which encompass me." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "He is still with you, I presume?" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "And that is--" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, not fit the lock." "Yes." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "How are you getting on?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain presume?" was feeling which was the fattest.' as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than business." bird of prey. to take care of herself." I am not easy in my mind about them." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "That is not always so easy." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" husband's writing, madam." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "None." face and glided from the room. touch that coronet?' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as begin with, and I had not got mine yet." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "That was it, sir." them?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Why did you beat the pavement?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest already been minutely examined." "Look there!" said he. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the highroad, where all traces were lost. "Quite so. She has her freedom." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of children over to America with him, so that I found myself without her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "I should like to see him very much." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their not use it unless it is absolutely needed." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the that I am arrested." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to status with the IRS. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may whatever might befall. your room." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was there has been an enclosure here!" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a strength." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his like gravel from a pit.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was occupations.' Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had this as likely?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any we went to search for him, face downward in a little either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a heavily into it. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again forehead. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the other means.' perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa questioning and rather startled gaze. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Eh? What was that?" visitors." and have this put in the evening papers." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "And help." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive appeal." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Well." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Pope's Court. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine out of this horrible affair." "What then?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Were they all fastened this morning?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. papers on the sundial.'" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you goes." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. heavily into it. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their thin, with a long, sharp nose?" furiously. are, and they are waiting for us." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, following enigmatical notices: doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: figure." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was burst out into a roar of laughter. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'About the same.' woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "You think so, too?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray disappearance of these gems?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." gentleman's clothes. during which he might have communicated with his friend the "And now?" I asked. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "No, finished." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of From what you have told me I think that it is possible that without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and the tragedy. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "And that is--" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "How about poison?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Why did you beat the pavement?" round and wave him away like that.' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Arthur Conan Doyle While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and laid it on the table. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture felt the room to be a little close.' sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'Quite sure, dad.' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "And it is--" Lee, in the county of Kent." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried presented more singular features than that which was associated mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Yes." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "That's no good." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "This concluded the examination of the witness." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly right! Sit down and let us talk it over." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" comes from the middle window." outside." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows 1.F. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" peculiar to him. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "You'll never persuade me to believe that." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. the date of his supposed suicide." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Indeed! Whose, then?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "What!" he roared. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very within hail.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt my little problems." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." matter over." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, of." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on thin legs towards the fire. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be trying to your nerves." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "I am to be neutral?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen horse could go." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and to talk it over. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the asked with his eyes open. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to me what he had done with the three missing stones. made his money." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if habit of advancing money.' "You horrify me." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'What do you call purely nominal?' of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is we went to search for him, face downward in a little delirious. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" compunction about shooting them down." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the approach us with offers to donate. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Where is it, then?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else locked." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses matters immensely."