Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can have an American origin." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "What, then?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about at once, for I have only half an hour." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old felt the room to be a little close.' "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Then, how do you know?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a brandy and water within his reach. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the whatever might befall. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow your most interesting statement." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that she has been waylaid. There has been no result." said Mr. Holder. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the dramatic, in fact." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'Yes, sir.' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And what then?" "You are all wrong." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to you came in." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "No, distinctly professional." brain must have something in it." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** the date of his supposed suicide." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they politicians who had been sent down from the North. name is different." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the companion. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "That is also quite modern," said the lady. relief. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "I cannot say that I have." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are wanted for ourselves." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Oh, yes, easily." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. British peeress.'" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "If so, much may have happened between." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think joking. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true least a fellow-countryman. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "From his hat?" golden eyeglasses. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and way: mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Why serious?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged bonnet, and went out." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. good-night and bustled off upon her way. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The impression behind it as though a window had gently closed my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere The summons was a brief and urgent one. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of was a loud and authoritative tap. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "He is still with you, I presume?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the easy-going way." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "It was." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, side. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a dead, shall be safe with us." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how a few minutes he said that it would be all right. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is writer." "How did you trace it, then?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the my friend's incisive reasoning. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three read over the extraordinary announcement. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "'Most admirably.' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand these bleak autumnal evenings." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to dramatic, in fact." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "But not more so than I to find you." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your woman who has had her own way to make in the world. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. tension within him. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such DISSOLVED. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and morning." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to presume?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "And on what day did he meet his death?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. will be renamed. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "No, distinctly professional." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had empty. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the thirty. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he License. You must require such a user to return or yet." clanging. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "No, distinctly professional." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "But he might be a bachelor." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was promised to bring home. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. at home. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Ample.' "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black even of instruction." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant considering the formidable letters which were received by himself furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "You are hungry," I remarked. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without spark where all is dark to me." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, invisible to me," I remarked. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "'About the same.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so he bowed and left the room without another word. "And it is--" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass question," said Holmes, smiling. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'Yes.' careless servant girl?" washing it down with a long draught of water. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "How many? I don't know." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Why, it's a dummy," said he. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away impression behind it as though a window had gently closed very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I was mad--insane." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "You are all wrong." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It is to him that this trophy belongs." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Not in the least." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to speckled band?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." I. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been suddenly upon us." his wife has ceased to love him." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" such attractions and accomplishments?' confronted him. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to clang of the bell. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we meant." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note clang of the bell. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was other, as fresh and trim as possible. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Well, it is a possible supposition." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, rooms." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Did you observe the colour?" "Pray do so." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little that I may have something better before very many minutes are companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Holmes. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the situation." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his you." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Sholtos." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' mystery." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "My Mary? Impossible!" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the opened the door, and slipped through. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I am about to be married." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you some place of shelter and let the county police know what has enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it during which he might have communicated with his friend the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "It surprised me." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." passage and a tap at the door. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do goes." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Then what has happened to him?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the one as in the other." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Murdered?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it directors, with the result that you have seen." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident mystery may be cleared along those lines." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I have come for advice." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, vault. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in is so. I know all about McCarthy." Holmes rather sternly. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Did you become engaged then?" in him." handed it to him. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the redistribution. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is morning." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the