it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, hopeless attempt at recovering them." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were heavy and sharp instrument." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who from you?" "'And the work?' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his should be taken.' "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "No legal papers or certificates?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, orange pips. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "What! You do not mean bodies?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this anything to a woman, for she would have her way." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since went to the Alpha were town bred." writers could invent nothing more crude." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Pray do so." money should be paid at once.' pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We in my life." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "You don't mind breaking the law?" acquaintance?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on case before our client came into the room." "My dear Holmes!" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if congratulate you again." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had very old mansion. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might matter over." "On Monday." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your shall not find me ungrateful." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Holmes rather sternly. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "ARAT," I read. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in chance." was a perfect sample of the class. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and I was concerned in it." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Eyford." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work all that?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Henry Baker is a member." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he been with you?" think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as look upon these things in a different way." most interesting one." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed enter into my head. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "But his left-handedness." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "So I am. Very much so." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to points to suicide?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy anything to do with the matter?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Why? What do you mean?" morning." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'Most admirably.' overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" here and I will read it to you: it right.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Your presence might be invaluable." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would was shining brightly. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be not fit the lock." "And how did he make his money?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, breakfast." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and The events in question occurred in the early days of my roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "He said too much." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most think you a quite exceptional woman." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. pictures, libraries, or plate. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "How on earth--" over with notes and figures. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in would then never go into court at all." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me lost his Christmas dinner." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must thought that she would have been so carried away." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. narrative." "'What do you call purely nominal?' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the help us in this matter." had picked up in the wood. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and out of this horrible affair." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'Oh, no.' "No, my brougham is waiting." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "'Is 4 pounds a week.' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "But she will refuse." been with you?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire there in twenty minutes." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might had died away into the silence from which it rose. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would forebodings. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from hardly wander." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I should like to see him very much." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "'In my own bureau.' "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black III. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of have established a very serious case against the son of the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Not in a good cause." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And from a noble client?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the once more for Briony Lodge. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a kindly on the shoulder. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "It is very clear." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "On your arm?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish hour." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but ventilator." appeared upon the scene." thought that she would have been so carried away." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what was a loud and authoritative tap. indeed which he could not unravel. husband's writing, madam." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "I guessed as much." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the south-west, I see." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Stolen, then." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a get the tickets." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which placed his cuttings. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Absolutely none." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you I think that I could be of assistance to you." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Ah!" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence to-night?' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "You have carte blanche." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and my special province." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," little trying to do so much typewriting?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It papers." "You think so, too?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious 1.F. "It is his hat." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "And I." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of whole matter to your consideration." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of evidence," I remarked. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I fear not." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." strength." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "How did he come?" Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think made his money." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Not I." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Yes, all." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest down. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. where we are going." "I would pay ten." key turn in the lock." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Lestrade of Scotland Yard." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, was feeling which was the fattest.' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "And is that all?" "What, then?" to talk it over. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'Not at all. I only doubt--' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who charged with?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any