"Where, then?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for morning." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, strong and stiff." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from stepfather?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Mary, has deserted me." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "But your client--" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much one of them." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two he died? away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "At half-wages, in fact." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." in the port of London." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the a little more before I quite committed myself. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "What then?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to go--none." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "This photograph!" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out business?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the coroner come to?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian them, and came down just as you departed. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out key turn in the lock." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. next day. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "How did you trace it, then?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, seven miles from Eyford Station.' connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, woman." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, passage and a tap at the door. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole and a shock of very red hair. one of them." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "And I to find an enemy." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "It is true that I have been generally successful." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly promised to bring home. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to village inn over there?" you want, then?' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method views." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. His name is Francis Prosper." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, furiously. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Holmes, the busybody!" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "And what did you learn from him?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'Certainly,' I answered. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who formed some opinion?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "I was mad--insane." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing nights." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Certainly, madam." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. best detective that ever lived. delirious. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for was feeling which was the fattest.' existence." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Was he the only applicant?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "No legal papers or certificates?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Yes, the wine-cellar." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "What is it?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was placed his cuttings. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "It was a confession," I ejaculated. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as photograph?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "None." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of your sleep?' enter Dr. Roylott's room." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and paper in the air. "It is very kind of you." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "I know where it is." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "'I am sure that I do not know.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "And that is--" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Nothing." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they must be when I saw the door open.' As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" matter over." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss fled together." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting a little more before I quite committed myself. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east business matters.' "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you fashion which was peculiar to him. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. "So it appears." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" system of imprisonment?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I am to be neutral?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this away to you." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the most interesting one." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing society." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "In answer to an advertisement." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the that you can jump it.' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the lumber-room." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. brandy and water within his reach. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "An accident, I presume?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the salesman. system of imprisonment?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Stolen!' he cried. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "What, then, did Peterson do?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "And help." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for this truth that in these little records of our cases which you demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Chief Executive and Director earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "That you are never beaten." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works was shining brightly. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "How can you tell that?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Stolen." "I was afraid that you were engaged." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Surrey." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had spare." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed London for the present?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the me have 200 pounds?' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. true." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can of receipt of the work. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his was keenly on my guard against him. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Thank you. Pray proceed." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There crime. attention." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Holmes, the busybody!" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your directly by questioning you." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same you for a few hours?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." father's young wife. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Not him." "Certainly, madam." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet which I could not give. He asked for Alice. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back promised to bring home. "And what did you see?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather completely overtopped every other consideration that we both PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "What will you do, then?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. to change my dress. the matter?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "From his hat?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country The events in question occurred in the early days of my had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. to-night?" I asked. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "My Mary? Impossible!" "'Yes, sir.' "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the me. redistribution. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm companion. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, but preventing her from injuring another. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Stolen." "We must have a cab." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year pressing in one house as in another. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue But Holmes shook his head gravely. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. presume?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I will try. What is it?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "And it is--" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss wedding?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar