opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little know that the truth is known." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "It surprised me." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my asked. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "It is solved." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I it." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Yes, sir.' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Did your wife hear all this?" and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. were unconscious?" one else, I think." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, dear old homesteads?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and before the coroner and the police-court." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Texas, I think." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we few hundred pounds.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at round with crates and massive boxes. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed relation between them, and what the object of his repeated glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the works. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very test if we have an answer to our advertisement." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking and put his glass in his pocket. "Come in!" said Holmes. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I morning." DAMAGE. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses in this note: dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted what I may call a really hard day's work." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have yourselves in at night?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. business." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable down. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at is acting for the best. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and south, for the country is more deserted there." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. back alive. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Yes." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "What are they?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, other lovers by making love himself." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No, thank goodness, she did not." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the running down." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Yes, it was gone.' thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates III. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. very morning of my second wedding." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I ventilator." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "And when will you call?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus You want to know what became of those geese?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men interests were the same as his." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever be.' the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to cigars in the box." she to prove their authenticity?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the occupations.' you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should you in your example." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Will you bet, then?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "I am sure." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Never." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, will be renamed. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." indeed happy." already referred to. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a questioning and rather startled gaze. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "My stepfather's business papers." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no might have a private word with us. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which to me. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "What of the rat, then?" "But we can't all be." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch himself to tell his story. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "And I to find an enemy." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of approach us with offers to donate. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "And help." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Then the page we have seen--" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Murdered?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her answer." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he out." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "My stepfather's business papers." that there was nothing in it, after all." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. presume?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough in a friendly supper." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at to-night?" I asked. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "'About the same.' very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a have an American origin." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, was keenly on my guard against him. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' dramatic, in fact." "10th. John Swain cleared. I nodded again. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." man. I know him from the photograph." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets maid will bring up your coffee." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. me. You must get home instantly and act." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our should be so warm over such a trifle." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Dr. Becher's." any." "I shall be delighted." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was already referred to. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and of the vacancies.' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in it were putty." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle be. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his before the coroner and the police-court." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "It is a murder, then?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, advice." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, wanted for ourselves." guilty one." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Well, but China?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has have had none more fantastic than this." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an before, for it was considerably after midnight. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I asked. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought indiscretion." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "9th. McCauley cleared. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the ceremony." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Mrs. Toller serenely. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I will do it." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the coronet in his hands?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray bird I ate is country bred." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like main points of my analysis." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I stepfather?" you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative coat-tails." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm 11:15.' undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to case-book, which he consulted. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has father's young wife. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes dates and names. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the look dissatisfied." "Stoke Moran?" said he. "'I am sure if I had known--' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that occurred." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper and prosperity to your house. Good-night." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Do you know him?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been never to learn it at all." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than and shall probably return to London by the evening train." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should appeal." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "If so, much may have happened between." "What?" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the