terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they wall." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "How did that help you?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus absolutely follow my advice in every respect." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of of the vacancies.' hurried away. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, lectures into a series of tales." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "You have a clue?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "He disappeared so suddenly." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who copied or distributed: "Did your wife hear all this?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two enter into my head. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. felt the room to be a little close.' "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as several quiet little villages up there." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Texas, I think." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that companion. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through said Mr. Holder. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his forbidden door. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can would apply.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." away into the river." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "None." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you From what you have told me I think that it is possible that erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. wanted for ourselves." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in I am not easy in my mind about them." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of before, for it was considerably after midnight. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay distinguish the words: spark where all is dark to me." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the matter." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Yes, only one." "One of his hands." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. any." weighed down with some great anxiety. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I assure you that I am in your hands." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Heh?' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" voice. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to be.' of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day highroad, where all traces were lost. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly bonnet, and went out." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his think that he is innocent?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Your French gold?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke assist you in forming an opinion." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet third from London." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may business matters.' deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' when you have done it." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "No." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Yes, the wine-cellar." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "And why in hopes?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even off." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "An enemy?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "I have solved it." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well or other trace. But how on earth--" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to was it brought him the coronet? upon the white wrist. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my sound at heart." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "What can you not understand?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Was he the only applicant?" manager. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before important." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I you." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of photograph?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching congenial hunt. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Witness: Nothing definite. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. correct than the official force." do you make of it all?" "One of the highest in England." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Why did you pick him?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "How did you deduce the select?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever likely to be some crony of the landlady's." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Yes, that is the Crown." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when think that any burglar could have done. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "What office?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of certainly do as you advise." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the shall not find me ungrateful." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the coroner come to?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which of note-paper. It read in this fashion: customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her within hail.' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I to miss it." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Was your sister dressed?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And Miss Sutherland?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included happened." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any ventilator." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in jewels which you have stolen?' in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a south, for the country is more deserted there." said he. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Yesterday." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the present." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating chill to my heart. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a started for the Temple to see my husband. "Bought." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I already referred to. "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "By no means." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations touch that coronet?' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, straighten it?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I think it very unlikely." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "But not more so than I to find you." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the arrested. You then--" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Very well, sir. And this stone?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "No." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "In the cells." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his showing my impatience. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that fear." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was be there in time for your coming." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." became a certainty. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "How did that help you?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "It is possible." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. before the coroner and the police-court." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I guessed as much." "Did your wife hear all this?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' long narrative. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and should be taken.' ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose me. You must get home instantly and act." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather yet." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to ceremony." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to ready to-morrow?' course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "What I expected to see." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Her father is very rich?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I cannot tell." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about populous neighbourhood." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "My own seal." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be remarked. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the