"Imitated." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, a monotonous occupation." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "I will do it." skylight. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, woman." take the flies, but not before." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. made him keep the appointment." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, newspaper selections." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to points to suicide?" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "What?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "'Tell me all about it,' said I. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in presume?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came who was a member of your goose club." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the The King stared at him in amazement. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his His name is Francis Prosper." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and most interesting one." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. to-night." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his rooms." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who at my remark. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and leaning back in his chair. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Stolen, then." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our would apply.' highly," said Holmes. room had already been engaged for us. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits voice, changing her seat as requested. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the indeed happy." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he them, and came down just as you departed. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I feature." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "'And the work?' "And you thought he was pulled back?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That emerged. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly him." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Yes, I promise.' their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting back into the street. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings seven miles from Eyford Station.' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'What, the red-headed man?' is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "And what did you see?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Holmes' face clouded over. the stones. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the trifles." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Again Holmes raved in the air. "Very much so." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "It's nothing of the kind." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." DISSOLVED. "The doctor?" young Openshaw's." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, you, my dear young lady?' the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most get her out of the way." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his of his shoulders. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Yes." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I don't say that. Perhaps." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to is so. I know all about McCarthy." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. it right.' "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be 'please.'" obstinate." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Why serious?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong soul! here is her carriage at the door." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "You know me, then?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at From what you have told me I think that it is possible that way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "I see no marks." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "None." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." bedroom door." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, results." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike and shall probably return to London by the evening train." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right conversation I have gathered that they have been married about fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our that threaten you." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is which should have the effect of calling the attention of the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Yesterday." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, these bleak autumnal evenings." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the most interesting one." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Game for a morning drive?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." case-book, which he consulted. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." bonnet, and went out." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and effective." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would side. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This window when the police appeared." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed returned to France?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Then how many are there?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "But she could not love him." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the coronet in his hand?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but bill, which interests me deeply." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the depend upon your compliance." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to Leatherhead. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Clair, of Lee." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." guilty one." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Bought." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Pope's Court. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "And what did you see?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have chamber." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch future lives." "You will not go there first?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." later, upon the night of May 2nd." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Very murderous indeed." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "What have you to say now?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. the matter?" prepare for the new role I have to play." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and emerged. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow particular state visit http://pglaf.org was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and me what he had done with the three missing stones. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the coronet in his hands?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought keep the flames under. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "'Where to?' "I was sure that I might rely on you." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from brandy and water within his reach. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, interest. They are important, you understand, without being They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he about. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very persecution?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "And your mother is alive?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I persecution?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed see a sister of mine apply for." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, to some other building. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "What will you do, then?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my had formerly been in part my own. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, became a certainty. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his for securing the situation." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing never will be, entirely cleared up. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found From what you have told me I think that it is possible that beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is all?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "None. Neville wrote those words." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself.