certainly do as you advise." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Awake, Watson?" he asked. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "And on what day did he meet his death?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry gives a meaning to it." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both key of the affair now." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must back alive. "That sounds a little paradoxical." drove away. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." the warnings." "What shall I do?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "'And what are they worth?' I asked. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered walking." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "And sit in the dark?" horse could go." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Holmes' face clouded over. investigation." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for are, I think, all that we need." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked that, and I came down." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "But we can't all be." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid developed." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we James Windibank. Voilà tout!" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I hands. you?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "It surprised me." "Yes. He waved his hands." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "No. What a strange idea!" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of place no limit on the sum I may draw." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "I should like to see him very much." "Imitated." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which The note was undated, and without either signature or address. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. the night.' was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. stepfather?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel most important business. It is probable that he will be away all grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It may not come to that," said Holmes. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. brandy and water within his reach. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from definite end. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to strode off upon his way. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Tired-looking or fresh?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is dates and names. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was light and attacked it." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! not fit the lock." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you criminal. We have already had experience of such." "How do you know, then?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Pray do so." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is chance." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes." charged with?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." written. His name is Francis Prosper." Watson," he said cordially. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Have you good authority for what you say?" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let our word." "No, I am descending." "No. What a strange idea!" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for ways of our fellow-men." said Mr. Holder. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess three of the beryls in it, was missing. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "I am following you closely," I answered. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the stones. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "But it has twice been burgled." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Holmes. spark where all is dark to me." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "What! Had he lost his wife?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'Certainly not. But why?' pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "What then?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "It missed him, then?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his weigh very heavily upon my conscience." possible that we could bring him back to her? "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The said Mr. Holder. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing during that time.' them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "She showed me, as I told you she would." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for sit on the left-hand side of the driver." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock late." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to weapon." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the fattened it expressly for you.' "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such society." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "And when will you call?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "I have my revolver," said I. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief and wait." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for singular points about the case. What did the police think of the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Sutherland. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. investigation." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the with some details as to your case." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Then I shall certainly come." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. like that before?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave behind me. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked prison!" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Did your wife hear all this?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried true." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "But it has twice been burgled." must be when I saw the door open.' "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wall." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "What! You do not mean bodies?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes to take care of herself." without a word or a look. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "No, finished." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for there!' travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. entirely lost his self-respect." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I should be immensely obliged to you." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other excitement. "By no means." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that once more to my work. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "The vanishing of the lady." went to the Alpha were town bred." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I was sure that I might rely on you." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "But how could you guess what the motive was?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Come in!" said he. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my extraordinary contortions. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a room. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." enter Dr. Roylott's room." have got?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said that I may have something better before very many minutes are liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You have carte blanche." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a heavily into it. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Pray continue your narrative." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "What then?" "'Is purely nominal.' thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. main points of my analysis." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "No, I had a dozen." be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid thought that she would have been so carried away." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I am following you closely," I answered. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp paper in the air. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Yes, I have one waiting." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I galvanised. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the matter." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client of this gang." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the one which it was hard to resist. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting disappearance of the bride.'" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my remarked. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "It was." locked. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness companion imperturbably. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I will not look." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Holmes' thin, eager face. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was ago." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "But what will you do?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "An enemy?" my special province." "Where is it, then?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Won't it ring?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over will find little credit to be gained out of this case." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I do." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in