he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Heh?' sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has me upon any point which I do not make clear." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "The rest you will leave in our hands." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself you?' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I am to be neutral?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Does that suggest anything?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to nothing of it?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I my room." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed has little to do with my story." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements be.' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, to that open window." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "It looks newer than the other things?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his III. "'Very good.' introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "What do you make of that, Watson?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Leadenhall Street--and--" "Did you observe the colour?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "It was." point in the dark hollow of his hand. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly with you?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Chief Executive and Director Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I think it very unlikely." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." room. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." in this note: which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in neither fascinating nor artistic." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I cannot tell." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which characteristics, but those are the more obvious." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than bedroom door." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose posted to-day." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would shall not find me ungrateful." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in strange features which were associated with the two crimes which call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "'Yes, sir.' "And is that all?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. he died? the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a may never be exposed to such a temptation." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An showing my impatience. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "A client, then?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Thank you. And your address?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the gigantic client. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a conclusions. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for indeed happy." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, might help us?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to good for you to do.' future lives." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Eh? What was that?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden would then never go into court at all." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months ready to-morrow?' charge against him will break down." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for lost his Christmas dinner." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little it were putty." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "One?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Yesterday." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has had formerly been in part my own. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag feature." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back where she found matters as described by the last witness. six. Come in!" "Thank you. Pray proceed." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. experiences." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we paper in the air. "I cannot tell." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a dear old homesteads?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell and have this put in the evening papers." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been some water from a caraffe. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "'A dozen yards or so.' Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "That is it on the dressing-table." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'What, the red-headed man?' "Entirely." "And you can do nothing until then?" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very prisoner's face. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, to me. you." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I think it very unlikely." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "When did she vanish, then?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as have got?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the opened the door, and slipped through. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that writers could invent nothing more crude." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." giving me time to thank him. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it your billet.' lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Yes, the wine-cellar." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, like that before?" in the port of London." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the King without delay." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I because she had spent so short a time in this country that she pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "And what did you see?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in followed. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Yes, that is the Crown." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was returning from some small jollification and was making his way "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil companion. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "You have a clue?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her bachelor.' may have an influence upon European history." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in outbreak?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "'About the same.' old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. a very grave face. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the said he. from you?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Was your sister dressed?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of at my remark. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is thought that she would have been so carried away." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, DISSOLVED. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must vault. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced absolutely follow my advice in every respect." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "You forget that I know nothing about it." Dr. Gregory B. Newby until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a up this clue while it is still hot." conduct the inquiry." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should your equipment. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that right! Sit down and let us talk it over." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, correct than the official force." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of upon the white wrist. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Leadenhall Street--and--" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Never to return." it. that, and I came down." "Yes, sir." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "It is very kind of you." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise formed some opinion?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Yes, sir.' his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." system of imprisonment?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. next day. me. narrative." "How did that help you?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Gutenberg-tm License. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything down from London to inquire more deeply into it." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to when your master had gone out." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. strength." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. colonel looking down at me. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. prisoner's face. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Yes, only one." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the fluttered off among the others. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of despaired of." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon had picked up in the wood. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is