to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "But his left-handedness." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate these bleak autumnal evenings." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Nor running a chance of arrest?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at singular points about the case. What did the police think of the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back wedding?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Really! You surprise me." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself be sorry for having acted so harshly." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" you." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the carried out of court." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Leadenhall Street--and--" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a galvanised. "Yes, that is the Crown." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and I think that I could be of assistance to you." Watson," he said cordially. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she following enigmatical notices: 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Oh, the cause is excellent!" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Where to?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "And how did you verify them?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while tell them apart.' singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "One of the highest in England." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was wife's character?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, at a side door. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to ways of our fellow-men." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter recall any case within my experience which looked at the first bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Eyford." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise keep the flames under. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Always." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "None. Neville wrote those words." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too through." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus cigars in the box." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Was your sister dressed?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. flock.' connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the coroner come to?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at bill, which interests me deeply." "I promise," said Holmes. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Yes." careless servant girl?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, the one as in the other." always that they were such commands as a lady might with head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down than was visible to me." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "What are they?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "At half-wages, in fact." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "In the cells." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it key of the affair now." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "No legal papers or certificates?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed infinite languor in his face. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said existence." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "You have carte blanche." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I anything to do with the matter?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I strode off upon his way. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the case before our client came into the room." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the unclasping of his long thin hands. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and followed. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Here?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he means taking possession of that which another person has a prior purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "How often?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I morning." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about dates and names. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and business." weapon." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle confronted him. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "No more words. Get out!" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has one else, I think." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. were new raised from a basin. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." than was visible to me." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it them?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Yes." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when this unhappy family?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no advice." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not lids now and glanced across at his visitor. a very grave face. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded furiously. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped lips." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Who was the criminal, then?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and pity, because in other respects you would really have done very grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light distance from the station, and there we found the young lady which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "But his lameness?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with important." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the window, rose as we entered. true." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by charged with?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with fled together." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. note?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'I have heard so.' with some details as to your case." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that upon the sideboard." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. as this. Pray let me have the details." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running know that the truth is known." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated never to learn it at all." again before evening." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these know what is wrong with it.' don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Yes, he did." to-night?" I asked. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason bell. Holmes whistled. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it criminal. We have already had experience of such." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "No, finished." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "And why?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "'Is 4 pounds a week.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I guessed as much." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about relief. asked with his eyes open. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Why? What do you mean?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the bottom.' chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "To the police?" branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "No." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Who was the criminal, then?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. breakfast?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil more solid." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told true." have got?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the I approached. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit indeed which he could not unravel. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of note?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "The doctor?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the works. See paragraph 1.E below. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought nights." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Imitated." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a all that?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Did you become engaged then?" himself to hunt down. system of imprisonment?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Munro.' to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "There is the writing." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. presume?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I it." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn ourselves in the office." "In answer to an advertisement." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Which dealer's?' dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he tail." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Ha! you find it so?" chambers. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man man. I know him from the photograph." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which