Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite main points of my analysis." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your we went to search for him, face downward in a little Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. had a long day." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I extraordinary contortions. certainly not very gracious." "But I am all in the dark." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk than was visible to me." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. foresight and the moral retrogression?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'As governess?' the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "It is half-past ten now." signal between you and your father? "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email was it brought him the coronet? singular points about the case. What did the police think of the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. cost them two and thirty pounds." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "I know where it is." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two locked." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to of this gang." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. begun to whiten, even as mine has." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Where did you address your letters, then?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Dr. Gregory B. Newby once more. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press business came to an end." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Why serious?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "'Not at all. I only doubt--' out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three you?' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "My photograph." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "And the cigar-holder?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." house for five minutes.' Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Ha! you find it so?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, think, you have already met." some city in a dream. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy this as likely?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of a light. "Then the page we have seen--" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a all?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side with her." "How often?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of nonsense.' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "That is not always so easy." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Who was the criminal, then?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "But your client--" hands. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "In what way?" asked Holmes. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "That you are never beaten." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Why serious?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Here?" "And what did you learn from him?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. hour." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back could gather together that I was able to avert another public their singular warning or token before them when starting upon states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I learned something! Where are the gems?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Yes." "'Never,' said I. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "It's nothing of the kind." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name to have that photograph." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It surprised me." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. conduct the inquiry." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), delighted to hear it," he said. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is lost nothing by them." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, know that the truth is known." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously strode off upon his way. "Nothing?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Yes, sir." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. before, for it was considerably after midnight. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "None." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found even so self-evident a thing as that." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Why, it's a dummy," said he. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." had picked up in the wood. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden nonsense.' rooms." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "You are all wrong." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Where, indeed?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Eh? What was that?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "If so, much may have happened between." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "The rest you will leave in our hands." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, on in his house." go back?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid presented more singular features than that which was associated walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking disappearance of the bride.'" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my you." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to me. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove showing my impatience. "Where, then?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance more solid." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "I am armed." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and danger is over." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more face and glided from the room. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way remarked. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "What do you make of that, Watson?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite and no precautions can guard against." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." ready to-morrow?' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "My stepfather's business papers." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one a room. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. up this clue while it is still hot." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version there!' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place kindly on the shoulder. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, one's self under obligations.' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She easy-going way." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "10th. John Swain cleared. more terrible than the truth. voice, changing her seat as requested. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has business at Coburg Square is serious." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up note?" "And how did you find out?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as business." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Yes." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I for the market.' have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of your sleep?' disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Well." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging call it cruel." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Pray be precise as to details," said he. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the ago." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you jewels which you have stolen?' entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Holmes." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some four million human beings all jostling each other within the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square DAMAGE. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'I am sure if I had known--' you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the room while you explain this matter?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Get out!" said he. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is throat." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I them, and came down just as you departed. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "How very absurd! I never noticed that before."