My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were lost nothing by them." the bed, and you in that chair." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the who was a member of your goose club." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Quite sure, dad.' however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "'Certainly not. But why?' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, This is what he says: "But what harm can there be in that?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was go back?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little character. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the loss of it. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this who was a member of your goose club." depend upon my doing so.' reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." once more. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "There is the writing." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "That is possible." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. be. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to down. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, make me his representative both with the servants and with the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" and looked back. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "I say it is." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Pray let us have it, for all that." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in wanted for ourselves." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a a little more before I quite committed myself. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "I shall most certainly do so." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. bird of prey. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as delighted to hear it," he said. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "You have the photograph?" advice." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Then how many are there?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Eyford at 11:15.' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the asked. "'Yes, sir.' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, someone who had been in Australia." presume?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Pool. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I am all attention, madam." "You have carte blanche." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been shall not find me ungrateful." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'What do you call purely nominal?' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far call the police, let the police find what they can.' "At the wedding breakfast." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. McCarthy's innocence. "I am in hopes that she does." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "My photograph." "'Why that?' I asks. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "What! You do not mean bodies?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Yes, from Horsham." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "And when will you call?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no as he folded up the epistle. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in four million human beings all jostling each other within the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to highroad, where all traces were lost. burst out into a roar of laughter. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "She told me to ask you." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. did not hear it also.' enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and front of me. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "None." made him keep the appointment." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Imitated." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent country, and eventually married, without anyone having a into the room. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "And is that all?" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "I am armed." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "The knees of his trousers." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and disappearance of these gems?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand generous with you in money matters.' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as his face which made him a very different person to the round, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was call for it in person on Monday morning.' "What is it?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Murdered?" it means?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "In what way?" asked Holmes. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be front of me. "No, I had a dozen." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on in my life." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have lamp. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "That is possible." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not your room." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Who was the criminal, then?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "How do you know, then?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has out." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Dr. Gregory B. Newby almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or locked. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as question. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain burst out into a roar of laughter. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the British peeress.'" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you kind enough to tell me what I should do." and your relations to her." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees occurred." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Yes, it would be as well." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a things are very often connected not with the larger but with the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Street. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into hand, madam?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "If I can be of use." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "And when will you call?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking started for the Temple to see my husband. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. happened." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." off." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, morning." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the side-table." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, about. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner wall." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by as he remarks, very much against the son." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, easy-going way." of a light. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been behind me. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes mystery!" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Holmes." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Holmes." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke What do you deduce from it?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is away into the river." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "It is possible." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I cannot tell." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Not in a good cause." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad enough to aid us in our search." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good opened the door, and slipped through. "Perhaps we may make them less so." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What out." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty him to go away.' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about made him keep the appointment." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "In the cells." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. if she died from some sudden fright." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table.