"God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on drawing your inferences." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "It certainly sounds feasible." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the Friday. Was it to be in church?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen suggested at once that there must be a communication between the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "I am about to be married." business." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "You have a clue?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "But of what society?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Very murderous indeed." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Foundation "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "My private note-paper." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "What then?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and congenial hunt. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a face and glided from the room. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Only as much as we can deduce." his eyes and forehead. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "'It is locked up,' I answered. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Where, then?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is locked. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into I am not easy in my mind about them." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such in a friendly supper." do.' I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the intrusion of other matters." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no learned something! Where are the gems?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our has little to do with my story." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Holmes' face clouded over. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "He is still with you, I presume?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Tired-looking or fresh?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "He said that you could solve anything." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. gone before you can get him to hospital." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "It is solved." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake voice, changing her seat as requested. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Well, it is a possible supposition." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to plantation.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes correct than the official force." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I night.' said he. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots definite end. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in his cane at the bell-pull. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Where to?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Pope's Court. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "But it has twice been burgled." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Pray be precise as to details," said he. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the feature." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of if she died from some sudden fright." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that know that the truth is known." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to a more successful conclusion." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." nights." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered at a side door. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is him. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became suspect him." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "I see no marks." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Holmes' face clouded over. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Literary Archive Foundation shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of window when the police appeared." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. be there in time for your coming." meant." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the Red-headed League." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon to-night?' error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been humiliation." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just this man was intellectual?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." joking. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "No." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Henry Baker is a member." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler orange pips. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to carpenter." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any is a common subject for conversation. "Certainly." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the taking in every detail of the apartment. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and are, and they are waiting for us." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and murdered man." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "And I say east," said my patient. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, too. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could giving me time to thank him. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the there when the Rucastles went away." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand room?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had certainly do as you advise." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length but preventing her from injuring another. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the call for it in person on Monday morning.' adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither might have a private word with us. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. name is different." to arrive at through this?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of it." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "What office?" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, speckled band?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," interest. They are important, you understand, without being to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him him to go away.' own family. thin legs towards the fire. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "One horse?" interjected Holmes. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you particular state visit http://pglaf.org disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the hardly wander." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our and I shall be with you presently." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." My friend smiled. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a always that they were such commands as a lady might with the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help 11:15.' "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "When did it break out?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the rooms." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Ten will be early enough." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "How did you trace it, then?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which to have been novel and of interest." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of tension within him. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. over part of the map. "What do you read?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "How did he come?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." already been minutely examined." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" shoulder; "he's all right." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Pray do so." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in again, where I was soon asleep. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a guilty parties." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "I have come for advice." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." individual and becomes the badge of a society." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "He said too much." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity is entirely a question of barometric pressure." him to go away.' waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'And what salary do you ask?' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I beg pardon." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "And how did you verify them?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to talk it over. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She that "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage think that he is innocent?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." enter into my head. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with fishes. a monotonous occupation." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time your room." never will be, entirely cleared up. "Could he throw no light?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, row." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get whole matter to your consideration." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "What office?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Cross for the Continent." he died? "Murdered?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and crackling voice. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the child." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'What then?' I asked. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Where did you address your letters, then?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you