be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over there when the Rucastles went away." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "One horse?" interjected Holmes. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and your billet.' "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which if she died from some sudden fright." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have little trying to do so much typewriting?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Could he throw no light?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is perplexity from it to my illustrious client. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the your bag." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to detective. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative were new raised from a basin. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few disappearance of these gems?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been opened the door, and slipped through. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "But I am all in the dark." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you to Leatherhead. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found bare slabs of marble. "You saw the ventilator, too?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "She walked into the breakfast-room." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle nothing of it?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the will not take me long to tell. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "And when will you call?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with mysterious end." hand, madam?" 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" fluttered off among the others. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "That you are never beaten." crime." father's young wife. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "But I am all in the dark." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, think that he is innocent?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a to his chemical studies. more solid." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it upon the white wrist. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to pound a week." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "And your father? Did you tell him?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Precisely." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the I have it here in my museum." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; indeed which he could not unravel. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New them?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "It is possible." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which away into the river." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and with her." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "And how did you verify them?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood jewels which you have stolen?' fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "What are they?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, me where it went to?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies maid will bring up your coffee." quite distinctive." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that have accepted such a situation. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "We must sit without light. He would see it through the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "He said too much." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to himself in a perplexing position. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the fact, we may call it conclusive." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. him. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Certainly." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the know all about it," he snarled. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name province." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss before the coroner and the police-court." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have anything to do with the matter?" "My dear Holmes!" "No, my brougham is waiting." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, it were putty." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I morning." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. deduce something from that?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "You have a clue?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them even so self-evident a thing as that." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "You forget that I know nothing about it." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "But I am all in the dark." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped whole matter to your consideration." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'Is purely nominal.' into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed of the efforts of the United States government and of the better point in the dark hollow of his hand. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Dr. Becher's." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one papers." morning." copied or distributed: here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from careless servant girl?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, your sleep?' look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a delighted to hear it," he said. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I this remarkable episode. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "What can you not understand?" must compliment you." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the most interesting one." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 ways including including checks, online payments and credit card jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock address. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "But I am all in the dark." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, any little problem which you may submit to me." my former friend and companion. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He to where he stood hid behind the curtain. his eyes and forehead. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal system of imprisonment?" paper in the air. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "No good news?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "No legal papers or certificates?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the one as in the other." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Yes?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged acquaintance?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "But he might be a bachelor." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do coat-tails." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the coronet in his hands?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had some water from a caraffe. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three gbnewby@pglaf.org innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "I see many objections to any such theory." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the charge against him will break down." horse could go." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Pope's Court. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might just ask you whether you had heard it.' With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the other means.' he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. you came in." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out What do you deduce from it?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is ready to-morrow?' into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I the very letters. But what is this written above them?' It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose awkward doing business with an alias." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the about. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible this as likely?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the be best to do. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "His face fell immediately. beg that you will break it off." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "And how have you succeeded?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me lost his Christmas dinner." your room." spare." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he begin with, and I had not got mine yet." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the waste of energy." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback foot. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical and inquire as to the address." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I cannot imagine." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event undoubtedly my uncle's." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Where to?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "On Monday." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to bell. Holmes whistled. than was visible to me." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "No?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." pressing in one house as in another. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and photograph?"