rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "She walked into the breakfast-room." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." as this. Pray let me have the details." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as when your master had gone out." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project during that time.' done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the matter?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "No." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think maiden herself was most instructive." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Very murderous indeed." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Ample." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "That is it on the dressing-table." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "At half-wages, in fact." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "How did that help you?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his society." official police." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through go from here to the Strand." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed your own bird, so if you wish--" envelope. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "When did she vanish, then?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon distance from the station, and there we found the young lady 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Was he the only applicant?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past writer." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, indeed happy." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features is four-and-twenty." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to not interfere, come what may. You understand?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "That sounds a little paradoxical." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do indeed happy." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from been with you?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside little adventures." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Serpentine Avenue. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was copied or distributed: after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "To ruin me." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "I have my revolver," said I. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "But she will refuse." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, way in." relief. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my row." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and October 9, 1890. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it your sleep?' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need second." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror your equipment. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then 1.F. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his what these perils are?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know way: "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "I am about to be married." must be when I saw the door open.' its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "What will you say?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Again Holmes raved in the air. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to door?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had one else, I think." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at John Swain, of St. Augustine. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the lost nothing by them." you in yours." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little next day. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Stolen, then." knowledge of the world." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we records." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply said Mr. Holder. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat are, I think, all that we need." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "By all means." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new in the port of London." occupations.' occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must young Openshaw's." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found power." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle absorbing." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst cigars in the box." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged what do you think they found in the pockets?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and constraint." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is him to go away.' are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her depend upon my doing so.' "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a neither fascinating nor artistic." fluttered off among the others. writers could invent nothing more crude." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some carriage. It was a chestnut." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "But what is it you wish?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He possible that we could bring him back to her? "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "How can you tell that?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "At half-wages, in fact." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I should wish to." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I have solved it." I leave." of the vacancies.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his upon the sideboard." were new raised from a basin. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let lamp. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her me. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be was already answered. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if geese which you supplied to the Alpha." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I II. "Well, some hundreds of times." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "It's nothing of the kind." Watson," he said cordially. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Will you bet, then?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the all?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets lamp in his hand. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "That you are never beaten." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' eat it." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer which was all perfectly true. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Why, what do you mean?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so said I. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Of what?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, it." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "'Most admirably.' The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Yes, all." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I papers diligently of late, have you not?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you letters?" to take care of herself." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'There is a drive, then?' his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed answer." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I said he. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you pound a week." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. this unhappy family?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not 1.F. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "You have compromised yourself seriously." companion quietly. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "My stepfather's business papers." suddenly upon us." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Foundation not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Certainly." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to is entirely a question of barometric pressure." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for lamp. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He true." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left and put his glass in his pocket. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Dr. Gregory B. Newby brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.