"You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, happened." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in married her." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "But I have heard all that you have heard." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the started for the Temple to see my husband. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Never.' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "An enemy?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The you?" compunction about shooting them down." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his where we are going." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. upon a handsome competence. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the matter?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. place no limit on the sum I may draw." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with rose-bushes. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the McCarthy." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "No." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. hour." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. nonsense.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained neither fascinating nor artistic." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know question you as to those details which seem to me to be most village inn over there?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "An enemy?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Pool. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in joking. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and notes," he said. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her goes." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Thank you. And your address?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Arthur Conan Doyle little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my place, I think that there is good ground to think that the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "No, distinctly professional." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of tell him that I know him to be innocent." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we point in the dark hollow of his hand. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Was she in good spirits?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to wedding?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they straighten it?" and laid it on the table. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left signal between you and your father? necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the coronet in his hands?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, is a common subject for conversation. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "I do." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little I leave." "My dear Holmes!" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "What are they?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon married her." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Upon what point?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about will be renamed. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Then I do not see the point." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was business." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." undoubtedly my uncle's." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I what these perils are?" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Breckinridge is his name." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Quite so. She has her freedom." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Yes." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Was she in good spirits?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "It's nothing of the kind." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you problems help me to do so." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one one of them." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "My dear Holmes!" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are way in." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Nothing." morning." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have enough to aid us in our search." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep me where it went to?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up front of me. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I fashion which was peculiar to him. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." anything to do with the matter?" six. Come in!" putting in the horse. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty been able to understand it, in a very few words. "The landlord of the Alpha." Holmes' thin, eager face. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards legal crime." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Was there a secret marriage?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone long narrative. "On Monday." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of interested in these little problems, and since you are good "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire himself in a perplexing position. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade never will be, entirely cleared up. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe to his chemical studies. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the cheerful." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been placed his cuttings. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy locked. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few following enigmatical notices: if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked have got?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the coroner come to?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of furiously. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in conduct the inquiry." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE several quiet little villages up there." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner yet." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "It was an hour's good drive." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" to tell." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, one's self under obligations.' leaning back in his chair. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a would then never go into court at all." on re-entering her father's house?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "10th. John Swain cleared. "And you thought he was pulled back?" "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I writers could invent nothing more crude." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was she has been waylaid. There has been no result." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid said Mr. Holder. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Has he come with you to-night?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet matter." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong happened." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Eh? What was that?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which sofa. This way, please!" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at his huge brown hands. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive disturbance in my wife." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance