"'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "That was it, sir." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "He disappeared so suddenly." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both matter." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," south, for the country is more deserted there." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Ah!" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." manager. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third forebodings. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "What then?" "You think that he is dead?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a your troubles." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us a very grave face. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a started for the Temple to see my husband. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a bears upon the case?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we disappearance of the bride.'" do.' across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are showing my impatience. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "She walked into the breakfast-room." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they bill, which interests me deeply." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the go--none." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Then, how do you know?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three of the one which your family is now devouring." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was suspect him." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That nights." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "The doctor?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "And how did you verify them?" you came in." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I woman." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." pierced for earrings?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. should be taken.' such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "In what way?" asked Holmes. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' It may be so in this case, also." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "No, I am descending." "Ah!" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he be sorry for having acted so harshly." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs suggested at once that there must be a communication between the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it hopeless attempt at recovering them." forbidden door. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which fishes. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the to affect your life." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Yes, only one." lamp in his hand. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, than to us. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me astonishment. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will whereabouts. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk answer." Literary Archive Foundation "Why did you pick him?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, delighted to hear it," he said. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, him to be an active member of the medical profession." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It noting anything else of interest. Holmes." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, McCarthy." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "And how in the world did you find them?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do enough to aid us in our search." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any him, that man would not have given me such complete information year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "No more words. Get out!" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "So I heard. You have him here?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his other means.' one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their events than those which have happened in my own family." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "You are hungry," I remarked. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of man. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For opened the door, and slipped through. minor matters until to-morrow." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the warnings." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the inquest, and which are worth considering." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the cigars in their mouths. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done shoulder. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "And why?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Did you become engaged then?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the cigar and let me expound." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing do.' than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. fled together." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, said he. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the a suggestive one." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "But we can't all be." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have dead, shall be safe with us." weary and pale-looking. in this note: widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "But she could not love him." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in friends, not even his own brother. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the dangers which encompass me." "The rest you will leave in our hands." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her dead, shall be safe with us." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I question you as to those details which seem to me to be most thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the beyond words. "Yes, sir." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. voice. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and in the port of London." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my towards the blaze. in him." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining face and glided from the room. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" License. You must require such a user to return or thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily when you have done it." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about lost nothing by them." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I to me. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Your sister is dead, then?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "And that is--" "It's nothing of the kind." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Again Holmes raved in the air. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood here." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Where, then, is my wife?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "By no means." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "An enemy?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to national property. I was determined that the law should have its the child." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an drawing your inferences." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Bought." I was concerned in it." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "ARAT," I read. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn perplexity from it to my illustrious client. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the in this note: have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Pray continue your narrative." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "9th. McCauley cleared. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And you don't know his address?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "That was it, sir." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, do." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated is a common subject for conversation. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his digesting their breakfasts at home." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to have I gained?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind charge against him will break down." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first brandy and water within his reach. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He if she died from some sudden fright." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the bed, and you in that chair." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to cigars in their mouths. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "We must have a cab." danger is over." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "No." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near something of him before." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. nothing of it?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the 11:15.' them?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "How did you trace it, then?" "Then how many are there?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Dr. Becher's." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and south, for the country is more deserted there." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The corner of the building. seem to you to be relevant or not." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned done what I asked you, Jones?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was and I shall be with you presently." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward details." "Absolutely?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "'Which dealer's?' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "9th. McCauley cleared. "None." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally fear." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in have got?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, beyond words. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a been." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "'As governess?' Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had that there was nothing in it, after all." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "To an end?" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height;