bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, bird of prey. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp to miss it." "Then he might have called to you?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and of it with the greatest attention. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent weapon." "BALLARAT." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I promise," said Holmes. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Of what day?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; later, upon the night of May 2nd." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of into the bag, and made for the door. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than respectable self." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that them?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them lost his Christmas dinner." the best of training." as this. Pray let me have the details." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "My opinion is in no way altered." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall bearing upon the case." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to For additional contact information: of your young ladies.' arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Then what has happened to him?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of which I could not give. He asked for Alice. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "You have carte blanche." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, within hail.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. directly by questioning you." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Was he the only applicant?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Then I am your man." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "One horse?" interjected Holmes. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his better grown goose." "What, then, did Peterson do?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "It may not come to that," said Holmes. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "The doctor?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and there." the little opening for the ventilator is." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may brain must have something in it." persecution?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the date of his supposed suicide." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Stolen, then." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I affection." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to never came back." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice your own bird, so if you wish--" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Yes?" to-night?" I asked. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His lids now and glanced across at his visitor. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I should be immensely obliged to you." several quiet little villages up there." "And why?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the which it had come upon my father." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." her also." Holmes' thin, eager face. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, answered with a sidelong glance. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than the very morning of the wedding." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Game for a morning drive?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "But your client--" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save papers." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods third from London." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." investigation." fled together." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his forehead." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any me, and I could not think that his explanation of the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Pool. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Pope's Court. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most key of the affair now." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us weighed down with some great anxiety. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an have got?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Yes, from Horsham." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" not personally threatened." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that the one as in the other." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "And for present expenses?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness appointment with me for six o'clock?" "No, but the enclosure is." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional overpowering excitement and concern. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended to-night?' and it need not interfere very much with one's other an introduction to him?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, colonel looking down at me. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very thin legs towards the fire. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been taking in every detail of the apartment. remarked. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of nights." there!' second." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but London for the present?" secret." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Gutenberg-tm License. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Street. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, obstinate." security.' have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Well, some hundreds of times." some terrible trap for her." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, was it brought him the coronet? my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward not interfere, come what may. You understand?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "In the cells." to you." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Have you it here?" happened." "Proceed, then." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It is very kind of you." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but question. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the warnings." "Not I." "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Certainly." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the driver. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Then, as to money?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her the date of his supposed suicide." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I call you and give you the chance." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Again Holmes raved in the air. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "What will you do, then?" "Yes?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Lee, in the county of Kent." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I answered that I had not. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I lost his Christmas dinner." asked with his eyes open. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining good-night and bustled off upon her way. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock o'clock is it?" to have that photograph." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and do you make of it all?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up back to my heart. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. him to be an active member of the medical profession." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but most important business. It is probable that he will be away all room. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "No, my brougham is waiting." it." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Is he quiet?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that written. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. it right.' habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from not within a twentieth part of the market price." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with following enigmatical notices: "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George and wait." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Dirty?" seen the man in the road." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he manager. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "None. Neville wrote those words." in the dead of the night?' through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your to arrive at through this?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'There is a drive, then?' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her said he. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the washing it down with a long draught of water. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens constraint." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Very truly yours, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" works. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten upon the white wrist. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New of the way of danger. Sutherland. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was would then never go into court at all." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just