we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger now. It seems that there had been some informality about their What do you deduce from it?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I it." "You horrify me." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "It is half-past ten now." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in behind me. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "My dear Holmes!" during which he might have communicated with his friend the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking up this clue while it is still hot." are, I think, all that we need." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, imbecility!" he cried. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "She showed me, as I told you she would." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." could gather together that I was able to avert another public running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Doctor, of the paper and the date." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." was feeling which was the fattest.' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. writer." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Perfectly so." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. acquaintance?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, time." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "I fear not." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, sofa. This way, please!" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught village inn over there?" would then never go into court at all." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like that you saw all that I did." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "I assure you that I am in your hands." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of someone who had been in Australia." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of it were putty." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the during which he might have communicated with his friend the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who chance at all." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good had this final quarrel? wife's character?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was hour." events, Mr. Windibank!" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when fact, we may call it conclusive." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "And when will you call?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into to you." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Very truly yours, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Why? What do you mean?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Tired-looking or fresh?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds them present such singular features as the strange train of "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" here and I will read it to you: while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." to miss it." in a very precise fashion." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of will take you up to see the machine.' look dissatisfied." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "So I have heard." my secret was safe in his possession. "I have solved it." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs one's self under obligations.' may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Well, but China?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those footfalls from the street. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "And the cigar-holder?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, new duties?' "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his From what you have told me I think that it is possible that glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Here?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in crime." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur not fit the lock." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" papers." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "'Then let me do so?' cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Certainly." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'A dozen yards or so.' get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been showing my impatience. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Arthur Conan Doyle out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "And how did he make his money?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "What! You do not mean bodies?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him man. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "No?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his as the one I chose?' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a examine." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "And Irene Adler?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup peculiar to him. of the way of danger. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" help us in this matter." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" charged with?" "What, then?" together. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is these bleak autumnal evenings." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my events, Mr. Windibank!" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "I promise," said Holmes. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Not I." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Chief Executive and Director in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I once more for Briony Lodge. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously everything which you would wish to know." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in people in all walks of life. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "No, but the enclosure is." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his beyond words. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I and your relations to her." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Stoke Moran." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Really! You surprise me." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone will take you up to see the machine.' the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. eavesdroppers?' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit The events in question occurred in the early days of my "And who is her maid?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'I have heard so.' three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "How about poison?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his The summons was a brief and urgent one. unprofitable." directors, with the result that you have seen." "It was." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Holmes, the busybody!" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how points in connection with it which never have been, and probably I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so question," said Holmes, smiling. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Now, then, what's the last entry?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." could go. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to-morrow." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." train.' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Pope's Court. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no have an American origin." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a DAMAGE. and inquire as to the address." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." guilty one." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Where did you address your letters, then?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long triumphant cloud from his cigarette. never came back." never came back." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at kind enough to tell me what I should do." to me. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Can I be of assistance?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the lamp. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "That is it on the dressing-table." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my leave you to your papers for a little." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my populous neighbourhood." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet my friend's incisive reasoning. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this tied." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a my room." key turn in the lock." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your way: scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an to his chemical studies. said he. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." foot. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is desk. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building experiences." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'Yes, sir.' would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Pray continue your narrative." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Why, what do you mean?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Yes." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr.