learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and when your master had gone out." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "You horrify me." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, closing the door. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "One of the highest in England." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. daring than any effort of the imagination." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "I guessed as much." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "You will not go there first?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off beyond words. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "But she could not love him." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Why serious?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and effective." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would into the bag, and made for the door. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be now. It seems that there had been some informality about their some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Well, but China?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Countess of Morcar's?" letters?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had province." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to there when the Rucastles went away." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to make me his representative both with the servants and with the what do you think they found in the pockets?" downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in hard-headed British jury." emerged. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'A dozen yards or so.' all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "It was an hour's good drive." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Which are?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "And sit in the dark?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds populous neighbourhood." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send your most interesting statement." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "And I to find an enemy." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend hair?' chance at all." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the ceiling. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you things are very often connected not with the larger but with the entirely lost his self-respect." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "So I heard. You have him here?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "I think it very unlikely." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in it right.' "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "That sounds a little paradoxical." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a just called myself is not exactly my own." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the detective. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss yards of it?' very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Were they all fastened this morning?" fat-encircled eyes. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her His smile broadened. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "I assure you that I am in your hands." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "No, I had a dozen." the house with me." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'I am sure that I do not know.' though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was developed." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left cup of tea. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in one's self under obligations.' accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer mystery!" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat problems help me to do so." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our down in his armchair and closing his eyes. companion. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge weary and pale-looking. suddenly upon us." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. feature." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "He slept on the premises." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "No." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a knowledge of the world." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "ARAT," I read. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it to have that photograph." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge outside." "Did you observe the colour?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the stones. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the It may be so in this case, also." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." imbecility!" he cried. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were you give your casting vote to?" companion. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Why did you beat the pavement?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "But I have heard all that you have heard." and that he would see to anything that turned up. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "BALLARAT." tell them apart.' main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door good-night and bustled off upon her way. business." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "No, thank goodness, she did not." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe shoulder. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of father's young wife. "Was there a secret marriage?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter noting anything else of interest. several quiet little villages up there." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon you for a few hours?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. me what he had done with the three missing stones. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right charge against him will break down." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been him. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Pray do so." Does that suggest anything?" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again second window is the one that I jumped from." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "How did he come?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had observed. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean writers could invent nothing more crude." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in weapon." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or frequently gained my first real insight into the character of outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I jewels which you have stolen?' naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there particular state visit http://pglaf.org over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps results." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "And Miss Sutherland?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'Where could I find him?' lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. key of the affair now." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking did not hear it also.' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "The Cedars?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Look there!" said he. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and second window is the one that I jumped from." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. galvanised. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had had no one to advise her at such a crisis." that he will be back before evening." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in round with crates and massive boxes. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope in my life." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Has he come with you to-night?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the station." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "What will you do, then?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I have a cab outside." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the maiden herself was most instructive." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a go back?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great mystery may be cleared along those lines." "No legal papers or certificates?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was will take you up to see the machine.' can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young as he remarks, very much against the son." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. his wife has ceased to love him." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. overpowering excitement and concern. "We have tried and failed." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally his face which made him a very different person to the round, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in His smile broadened. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. that "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I a very grave face. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. him." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his could go. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to my secret was safe in his possession. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. him!" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Well?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's You want to know what became of those geese?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "ARAT," I read. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, gone. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." flock.' "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "This concluded the examination of the witness." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the legal crime." important." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I to his chemical studies. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Not in a good cause." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did swore that no one else had been in the front room during the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted what I may call a really hard day's work." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and written. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Absolutely?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss as he folded up the epistle. "I should be immensely obliged to you." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Why did you pick him?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "When did she vanish, then?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce cost them two and thirty pounds." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you new acquaintance to Baker Street. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary his grey eyes. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any held up the lantern and gazed about him. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Very good.' low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "And what then?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in man. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant to some other building. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint question," said Holmes, smiling. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared,