which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have some place of shelter and let the county police know what has morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the used to be." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a records." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass that you wished to speak to me?' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do crackling voice. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never these bleak autumnal evenings." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her American. Then who could this American be, and why should he A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself late." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and your relations to her." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray which should have the effect of calling the attention of the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Yes." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly details should find their way into the papers. Inspector have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are things are very often connected not with the larger but with the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "But what is it you wish?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all shoulder; "he's all right." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Thank you. And your address?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will open." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "'Quite sure, dad.' compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' and it need not interfere very much with one's other right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "There are none." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he them, and came down just as you departed. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Count Von Kramm." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body London for the present?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Really! You surprise me." have an American origin." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless both be extremely obliged.' with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch a little more before I quite committed myself. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands colour had been driven from his face. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very directors, with the result that you have seen." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "None. Neville wrote those words." get her out of the way." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man you." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. depend upon my doing so.' of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Where, then, is my wife?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's been." and inquire as to the address." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "You have carte blanche." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "You have the photograph?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "How can you tell that?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Oh, yes, easily." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "And it is--" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham tapping his fingers upon the table. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Perhaps I have." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "'Quite sure, dad.' corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it emerged. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Then I do not see the point." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly photograph?" here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." see me here to avoid scandal." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I held the little printed slip to the light. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And I." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "I cannot say that I have." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, formed some opinion?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Was the window open?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "But what will you do?" your Highness to the police-station?" "Here?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see she used." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "No, distinctly professional." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Very much so." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "The King of Scandinavia." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof to talk it over. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the gives a meaning to it." "And what did you see?" as he remarks, very much against the son." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as for its centre. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "To an end?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows shall not find me ungrateful." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and following enigmatical notices: I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a I am not easy in my mind about them." "Did you become engaged then?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to when you have done it." interests were the same as his." photograph?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Who was the criminal, then?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Yes." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and affection." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both who was a member of your goose club." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which do.' hardly wander." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and with the outside air!" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic lumber-room." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' people in all walks of life. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very all?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we a monotonous occupation." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "And the murderer?" outbreak?" he bowed and left the room without another word. him nearly every evening." "Will you bet, then?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "You will not go there first?" wedding?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate take the flies, but not before." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly But Holmes shook his head gravely. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Leadenhall Street--and--" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should away into the river." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole himself to hunt down. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a humiliation." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "'Where to?' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "What is it, then--a fire?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but would then never go into court at all." me have 200 pounds?' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard you." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to miss it." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not which are rolled in Rotterdam." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Was he the only applicant?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me that I may have something better before very many minutes are train.' "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his this man was intellectual?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." went to the Alpha were town bred." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen sit on the left-hand side of the driver." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for envelope. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the best detective that ever lived. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "The Cedars?" any little problem which you may submit to me." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on figure." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon other lovers by making love himself." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was had this final quarrel? TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Do you know him?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this place no limit on the sum I may draw." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." sake, don't!" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty weigh very heavily upon my conscience." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as again, where I was soon asleep. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Not him." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "And how have you succeeded?" the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his