his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "What have you to say now?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, skylight. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe quick march!" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "No." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had back into the street. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "My stepfather's business papers." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "You have carte blanche." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a foot. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. client, rising. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the what is your own theory as to what took place?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. it." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so yards of it?' asked. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it locked." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand bearing upon the case." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "You will not go there first?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "A confidential servant?" to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. soul! here is her carriage at the door." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of details." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the once more for Briony Lodge. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the Assizes." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to child?' taking in every detail of the apartment. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "There is the writing." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon that before taking the final step I should like to submit the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her window when the police appeared." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular tell him that I know him to be innocent." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Yes." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my trying to your nerves." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was touch that coronet?' and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the driver. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, more terrible than the truth. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Absolutely?" as he remarks, very much against the son." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, bears upon the case?" "ARAT," I read. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' of a light. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Could he throw no light?" suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think into the bag, and made for the door. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor would apply.' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in present." "What I expected to see." "A call for help, you thought?" the running down." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in perplexity from it to my illustrious client. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and time." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "BALLARAT." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "And how?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax peculiar to him. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss gbnewby@pglaf.org "I have seen the police." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a strength in the others." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's man. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It seem to you to be relevant or not." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "That is unusual in a young girl." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' again before evening." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King she used." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in mysterious end." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" within hail.' "You think so, too?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his these bleak autumnal evenings." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything sound at heart." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Pope's Court, Fleet Street." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of colonel looking down at me. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I points to suicide?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless nonsense.' instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding singular points about the case. What did the police think of the breakfast." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it entirely lost his self-respect." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." all-comprehensive glances. in the dead of the night?' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the armchair which I pushed forward for him. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is you for a few hours?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his obstinate." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not recall any case within my experience which looked at the first agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Pray continue your narrative." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your corner of the building. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "No bad?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, know what is wrong with it.' quite distinctive." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. quickly through a disagreeable task. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "It is very kind of you." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, touch that coronet?' her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 that there was nothing in it, after all." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few unprofitable." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, man. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual note?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." to a light-house. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a it." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. with the outside air!" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, your most interesting statement." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Why serious?" where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, but preventing her from injuring another. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "No, finished." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two over part of the map. "What do you read?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." be. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, meanly of me." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as points to suicide?" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave http://www.gutenberg.net formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards other, as fresh and trim as possible. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "You did not overhear what they said?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just have been better. It is all right." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." place of silver." "No, I think that I'll take it." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." there is a decided draught." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "None." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Come in!" said he. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be address. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have way: and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward go back?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock promised to bring home. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the like gravel from a pit.'