summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. are, and they are waiting for us." happened." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "It is very clear." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the nonsense.' if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "And what then?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which and looked back. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an address. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Yes, all." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. learned something! Where are the gems?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he your equipment. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of fat-encircled eyes. "Absolutely none." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," business." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all read over the extraordinary announcement. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in of a light. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. allusion to a rat. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone of this gang." http://gutenberg.net/license). Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "He said that you could solve anything." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "The rest you will leave in our hands." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Not I." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "What! You do not mean bodies?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Was there a secret marriage?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in thin legs towards the fire. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic present." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." forehead. "No, finished." held up the lantern and gazed about him. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Where did you address your letters, then?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was true." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, stalked out of the room. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I considering the formidable letters which were received by himself in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where he died? for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I say it is." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Very. But will he see it?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The you do it in twenty minutes!' considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "In the cells." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "It is very clear." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Was there a secret marriage?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Henry Baker is a member." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "How did that help you?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Whose house is it?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which chance at all." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our you in yours." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Certainly not.' Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself throat." Sholtos." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was hand, madam?" see me here to avoid scandal." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "What are they?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A conversation I have gathered that they have been married about himself to hunt down. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it some city in a dream. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "I saw her in conversation with her maid." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "'Where could I find him?' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave it." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There becomes even more simple." "Texas, I think." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird to take care of herself." "No, finished." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to his chemical studies. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "You are all wrong." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Lee, in the county of Kent." shoulder; "he's all right." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do what is your own theory as to what took place?" head. So long, then!" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Did he not advertise?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the nursery. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Could he throw no light?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside newspaper selections." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning." ready to-morrow?' "What can it mean?" I gasped. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "He said that you could solve anything." and the church but not where the lady lived." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the meant." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a imbecility!" he cried. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had stood on the top of it. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to outbreak?" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Leadenhall Street--and--" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I you in yours." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Deserted you?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the Assizes." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A handed it to him. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was of this gang." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of fine shops and stately business premises that they really another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every my friend's incisive reasoning. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been himself in a perplexing position. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more companion quietly. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving one's self under obligations.' just ask you whether you had heard it.' bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of October 9, 1890. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Ample." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you enough to aid us in our search." "Then you may entirely rely on me." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Nothing?" of campaign. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I am armed." Stoke Moran." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I he died? Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Eh? What was that?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this young Openshaw's." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." said he. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose had a long day." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle secret." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Yes, certainly." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. careless servant girl?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" to change my dress. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the go from here to the Strand." and laid it on the table. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," indeed happy." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Then I shall certainly come." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, weighed down with some great anxiety. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and laid it on the table. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the in this way: whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we official police." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "It was a confession," I ejaculated. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to License. You must require such a user to return or vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something nights." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in out." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once