set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 things are very often connected not with the larger but with the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "But you can know nothing of this?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it events, Mr. Windibank!" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Dr. Gregory B. Newby obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Pray do so." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. official police." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Texas, I think." generous with you in money matters.' explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the little trying to do so much typewriting?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as where Mr. Fordham shows you.' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square cheerful." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other distance from the station, and there we found the young lady crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the address that was given us in the advertisement. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I have seen the police." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: hardly wander." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his had picked up in the wood. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a hour." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and letters?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very me. You must get home instantly and act." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they burst out into a roar of laughter. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Holmes' thin, eager face. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the upon a handsome competence. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me affection." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "But his left-handedness." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital unprofitable." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily silent! Oh, he will be silent!' myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of province." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe to change my dress. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had beg that you will break it off." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Clair, of Lee." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of photograph a cabinet?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her case-book, which he consulted. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. locked. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a criminal. We have already had experience of such." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin For additional contact information: so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered problems help me to do so." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without business in the City. She little knew what. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Witness: I must still refuse. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of may have an influence upon European history." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. you in your example." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I upon the white wrist. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four bell. Holmes whistled. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "My photograph." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" to that open window." miles off. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "My last client of the sort was a king." people don't know." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. have got?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning voice, changing her seat as requested. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the later, upon the night of May 2nd." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just a suggestive one." clanging. papers on the sundial.'" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "A confidential servant?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for he bowed and left the room without another word. how narrow had been my escape. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the matter over." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" entirely devoid of interest." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "The Coroner: What do you mean? darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been morning." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a despaired of." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Bought." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was tear off another piece?' which it had come upon my father." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "'Stolen!' he cried. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our nothing of it?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Will you go?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. walking." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Nearly eleven." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of his fortune, and I went back to pa. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Why, what do you mean?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' and a shock of very red hair. plantation.' set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Yes." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "But not more so than I to find you." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." may have an influence upon European history." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Certainly." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Holmes' thin, eager face. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" heavy and sharp instrument." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found you?' "Then, as to money?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and tassel actually lying upon the pillow. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A wedding?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was man. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Yes, the wine-cellar." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'What do you call purely nominal?' called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I cannot tell." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me interests were the same as his." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of was a perfect sample of the class. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "But his lameness?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too once more for Briony Lodge. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, appeared upon the scene." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the upon an income of about 60 pounds." "That is possible." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my any." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be of receipt of the work. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "By all means." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat you." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of bachelor.' large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Why serious?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit could not account in any way for the presence of the missing given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though photograph?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. lamp in his hand. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. DISSOLVED. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms detective. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people system of imprisonment?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'Certainly not.' done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood thin legs towards the fire. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of it means?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "We must have a cab." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "'In my own bureau.' not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Pope's Court, Fleet Street." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, must be when I saw the door open.' "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have as he folded up the epistle. you." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and a shock of very red hair. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "What shall I do?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Ten to two.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Yes, they were peculiar boots." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked make me his representative both with the servants and with the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I get the tickets." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is once more. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my conceal it?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. success. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. province." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "But how?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to-night." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of foot. "Yes, it was twisted." before, for it was considerably after midnight. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Miss Holder?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. highly," said Holmes. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Have you good authority for what you say?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Yes." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see