himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather shaken than I had ever seen him. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good to that open window." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Upon what point?" "Nothing?" travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Witness: I must still refuse. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Yes." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for forebodings. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his never came back." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have I have it here in my museum." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "It is solved." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" later, upon the night of May 2nd." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "It must be recovered." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his been with you?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured are, I think, all that we need." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety shall not find me ungrateful." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "It looks newer than the other things?" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "But to whom?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed is worth.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Count Von Kramm." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "'What then?' I asked. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back third from London." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers me." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have his fortune, and I went back to pa. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge closely." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in galvanised. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my ago." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. even so self-evident a thing as that." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Certainly." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed or other trace. But how on earth--" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "In the cells." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot appointment with me for six o'clock?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "And you thought he was pulled back?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Why did you beat the pavement?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had villagers almost as much as their master. cause to be." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' what these perils are?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family to have been novel and of interest." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "That is not always so easy." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet one of them." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from problems help me to do so." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "I think it very unlikely." bachelor.' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Why did you pick him?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in go from here to the Strand." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "It must be recovered." recover the gem." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned heavily into it. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "She walked into the breakfast-room." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was his eyes and forehead. "'Certainly,' I answered. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. three fields round his house, and there he would take his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "To an English lawyer named Norton." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to upon a handsome competence. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "When did it break out?" unprecedented a position." "Stoke Moran?" said he. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "How many? I don't know." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Perfectly so." man. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Did you become engaged then?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send it. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "But we can't all be." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. success. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was excitement. is acting for the best. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter her also." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us both be extremely obliged.' fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Yes, at the mines." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to mystery!" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Only as much as we can deduce." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it started for the Temple to see my husband. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Edgeware Road. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You are hungry," I remarked. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "This photograph!" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Not social, then?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, four million human beings all jostling each other within the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of of them has the shutters up.' "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "How did he come?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project invisible to me," I remarked. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I am armed." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Thank you. And your address?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope very morning of my second wedding." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the bottom.' which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because answer." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters exactly what you advise." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Proceed, then." shall not find me ungrateful." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has flock.' tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Where did you address your letters, then?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this photograph a cabinet?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of on re-entering her father's house?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the telegram would bring me down to your help." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw look upon these things in a different way." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed gone before you can get him to hospital." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post noble correspondent could be. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "I am in hopes that she does." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Look there!" said he. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled any more." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then I leave." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "You have it, sir, just as it happened." room?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, do you make of it all?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "And who is her maid?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you were unconscious?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I shall be delighted." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a felt the room to be a little close.' down in his armchair and closing his eyes. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "He is still with you, I presume?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential own family. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "What then?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a my friend's incisive reasoning. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. tell me that you intended to go into harness." "How on earth--" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning singular points about the case. What did the police think of the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have him!" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might you found me to-night--and running through the front room she years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy of the way of danger. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a it were putty." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and cigars in the box." entirely devoid of interest." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "What of the rat, then?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You are hungry," I remarked.