broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "'Is purely nominal.' "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "I don't say that. Perhaps." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to It may be so in this case, also." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "The doctor?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I cannot as yet see any connection." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Two days later this same performance was gone through under to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Oh, fresh and glossy." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Holmes rather sternly. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "What!" he roared. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I am all attention, madam." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past chemical work which was so dear to him. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such lectures into a series of tales." 'please.'" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" strength of mind to control. gives a meaning to it." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all was lame." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had meanly of me." mysterious end." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Pray tell us what has happened to you." weapon." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing house for five minutes.' took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if just ask you whether you had heard it.' read over the extraordinary announcement. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm where Mr. Fordham shows you.' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning desk. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "It is very clear." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found entirely devoid of interest." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "You have it, sir, just as it happened." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "No." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her leave you to your papers for a little." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here golden eyeglasses. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the key turn in the lock." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "The best possible." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, you want, then?' opened the door, and slipped through. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had think, you have already met." them, and came down just as you departed. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds leaning back in his chair. purpose equally well?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I tell him that I know him to be innocent." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I should be immensely obliged to you." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I cannot tell." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely as the one I chose?' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a American. Then who could this American be, and why should he McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled himself to tell his story. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was wall." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "But not more so than I to find you." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid indiscretion." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to lamp in his hand. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to is so. I know all about McCarthy." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but daring than any effort of the imagination." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "One horse?" interjected Holmes. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "You are all wrong." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the vault. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her My friend smiled. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, disappearance of these gems?" yards of it?' whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope room. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done roused himself from his reverie. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Holmes. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some you." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across that there was nothing in it, after all." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of carpenter." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United detective. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Yes." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. his knees, staring into the fire. DAMAGE. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such returning from some small jollification and was making his way merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & upon the white wrist. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation she has been waylaid. There has been no result." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it I shall communicate with you." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, made him keep the appointment." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "'It is locked up,' I answered. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly I was concerned in it." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "And your mother is alive?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any it. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that thirty. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I lost his Christmas dinner." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who London for the present?" "That was it, sir." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works certainly not very gracious." "I answered that I had not. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Deserted you?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided sneer upon his pale face. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with affection." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed discontent upon his features. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Edgeware Road. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Did he not advertise?" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into look upon these things in a different way." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the orange pips. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock reach." wanted for ourselves." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, forbidden door. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my wife's character?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, if only as a check to my own memory." "But the mystery?" business." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the standing smiling on the door-step. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being stammered. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in galvanised. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT humiliation." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Was your sister dressed?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could have one." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went papers on the sundial.'" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by manager. and the whole place is in a blaze." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely was shining brightly. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Dirty?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Frequently." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Yes." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "'In my own bureau.' which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "A greater distance to travel." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sound at heart." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful stepfather?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed answered with a sidelong glance. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which was already answered. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Quite so." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the What do you deduce from it?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then fait accompli?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Frequently." "And leave your case unfinished?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should this truth that in these little records of our cases which you scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our people don't know." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I see no marks." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement lamp. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that south, for the country is more deserted there." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a