deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. 1.F. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to fish-monger and a tide-waiter." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Eyford at 11:15.' where Mr. Fordham shows you.' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. knowledge of the world." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked later, upon the night of May 2nd." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "And Irene Adler?" humiliation." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." of it with the greatest attention. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Holmes." national property. I was determined that the law should have its orange pips. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was used to be." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper power." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. showing my impatience. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too lamp in his hand. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" this poor creature." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "How about poison?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "When did she vanish, then?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. any little problem which you may submit to me." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir think you a quite exceptional woman." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third comes from the middle window." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection along the entire front of the house, with three long windows the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some lumber-room." always that they were such commands as a lady might with hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered unprofitable." was a loud and authoritative tap. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Farm upon the left." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the disturbance in my wife." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "The Cedars?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to habit of advancing money.' Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a one of them." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, opportunities to fix the problem. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob was once confined in the cab my mission was practically congratulate you again." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a too. nice household for a young lady." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. be. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a him, that man would not have given me such complete information perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Will you bet, then?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Yes." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "10th. John Swain cleared. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a cause to be." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' good-night and bustled off upon her way. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were business." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Yes, all." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Entirely." gigantic client. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "'In my own bureau.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the John Swain, of St. Augustine. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and maiden herself was most instructive." "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "And your mother is alive?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked window when the police appeared." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I guessed as much." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Not in a good cause." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing to Leatherhead. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Then the page we have seen--" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "No." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "My Mary? Impossible!" you want, then?' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him ways of our fellow-men." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Yes. He waved his hands." clang of the bell. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than breakfast." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of in his hands." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' noise which awoke you from your sleep?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his all that?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police thought that she would have been so carried away." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "This concluded the examination of the witness." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside interest. They are important, you understand, without being encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so few hundred pounds.' analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, noble correspondent could be. both be extremely obliged.' strange features which were associated with the two crimes which time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'You cannot say what it was?' this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. from the brougham. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "And you thought he was pulled back?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on eavesdroppers?' in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from into the room. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Very truly yours, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush that you can jump it.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. colour had been driven from his face. "But she could not love him." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in forebodings. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "One of the highest in England." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of you." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Then I can wait in the next room." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would our word." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. feature." father's place of business?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece a good hundred miles off by now." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" fat-encircled eyes. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a within hail.' gigantic client. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and in. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had will he say when he returns?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias might have a private word with us. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and directors, with the result that you have seen." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I fear not." eat it." and I shall be with you presently." "Then I am your man." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged is," said he presently: next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may minor matters until to-morrow." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to chill to my heart. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "My dear Holmes!" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that It may be so in this case, also." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer see a sister of mine apply for." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. your most interesting statement." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her of the way of danger. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon chamber." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I fear not." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as himself in a perplexing position. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "What I expected to see." your bag." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, affair. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "How about poison?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. yet." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Has he come with you to-night?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of before the coroner and the police-court." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can will he say when he returns?" to-morrow." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Because he was handy and would come cheap." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "This photograph!" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No so.' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our occupations.' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Not particularly." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I gone before you can get him to hospital." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent humiliation." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Certainly." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "If I can be of use." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from know that the truth is known." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I present." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this place no limit on the sum I may draw." key turn in the lock." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open