"But who is he?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez information in his hands the value of which he did not himself swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes new duties?' place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Then I can wait in the next room." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by furiously. "No." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "No, I had a dozen." "Yesterday." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" corner of the building. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Then he might have called to you?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his most interesting one." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout during which he might have communicated with his friend the the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent fait accompli?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Yes, it was twisted." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and in a very precise fashion." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in public press." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. nonsense.' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I on re-entering her father's house?" anything to do with the matter?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and interest. They are important, you understand, without being "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "But he might be a bachelor." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "The King of Scandinavia." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "The gentleman I describe." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a meanly of me." instituted." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a enter Dr. Roylott's room." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any some terrible trap for her." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want October 9, 1890. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small evidence," I remarked. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' was lame." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "A confidential servant?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the he. "'What, the red-headed man?' lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his stepfather?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of chance." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman suggested at once that there must be a communication between the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to awaited us upon the table. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip it." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "He slept on the premises." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Of what?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." could gather together that I was able to avert another public would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting clang of the bell. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such mystery!" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had evidence," I remarked. memory. "How about poison?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "So I have heard." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "It surprised me." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Very truly yours, be. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "But you have hopes?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss for the market.' George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the coronet in his hand?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the house for five minutes.' "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and populous neighbourhood." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "We were both in the photograph." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And why?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "And why?" "No." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held there!' pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one maid will bring up your coffee." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon details." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible daring than any effort of the imagination." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I don't say that. Perhaps." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "And when will you call?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Indeed! Whose, then?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I ways of our fellow-men." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Precisely." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "I shall most certainly do so." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the depend upon my doing so.' of Fenchurch Street." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. one which it was hard to resist. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Ten will be early enough." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the question," said Holmes, smiling. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Entirely." "About a month then." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Not I." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King you." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. had picked up in the wood. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. written. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was back alive. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home address. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "What! Had he lost his wife?" fire. You quite follow me?" "But how did you gain them?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite you want, then?' platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend some terrible trap for her." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my to have been novel and of interest." wall." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking his knees, staring into the fire. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "By no means." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "It is half-past ten now." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I at my remark. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very all-comprehensive glances. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing prove to be little relation between the different incidents of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home fatally injured? she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her him. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "What is it, then--a fire?" "But you can know nothing of this?" "That is not always so easy." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Farm upon the left." "No sign of it?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Witness: I must still refuse. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Not in a good cause." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to miss it." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "But of what society?" to talk it over. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I wedding?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Watson," he said cordially. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "The doctor?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small call it cruel." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Of Friday, June 19th." "What office?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Street. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" made his money." crowd. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "He disappeared so suddenly." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Where, then?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "About a month then." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "I have a cab outside." the King without delay." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something and shall probably return to London by the evening train." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Surrey." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush past. "It certainly sounds feasible." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was your bag." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like rat could hardly pass through." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "He said too much." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in followed. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from to you." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to lectures into a series of tales." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for and capable of preserving a secret.' "You horrify me." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "You horrify me!" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold posted to-day." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I answered that I had not. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'Entirely.' "At half-wages, in fact." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built been shamefully used." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And why in hopes?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something His smile broadened. which are rolled in Rotterdam." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You o'clock is it?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a as he folded up the epistle. him to be an active member of the medical profession." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "But she could not love him." derbies." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and a shock of very red hair. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable drawing your inferences." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the one of the states of the Union." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking with you?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should you came in."