leaning back in his chair. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered may have an influence upon European history." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" as yours." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the salesman. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' if I call to-morrow?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could man. I know him from the photograph." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." an introduction to him?" cause to be." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, at the mines." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to begin with, and I had not got mine yet." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Yes?" "But how will you look?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Who by?" "Thank you. And your address?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely questioning and rather startled gaze. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an next day. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Not yet." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of directors, with the result that you have seen." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the Assizes." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Will you bet, then?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an true." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope your most interesting statement." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Well, some hundreds of times." you." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' joking. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "My stepfather's business papers." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "That is not always so easy." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the devil!" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by been shamefully used." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the that I can to serve you." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "And from a noble client?" a room. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of she used." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "Were they all fastened this morning?" the dangers which encompass me." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Not particularly." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some existence." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the matter?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "It missed him, then?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless for its centre. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will corner of the building. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Yes, I have one waiting." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been British peeress.'" "The murder was done with it." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Then how many are there?" "Then I can wait in the next room." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of coat-tails." "'Yes, it was gone.' these bleak autumnal evenings." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "It is no ordinary one." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we outsides of the windows. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "I was mad--insane." "No good news?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and you came in." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal shoulder; "he's all right." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "That is unusual in a young girl." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. I shall continue with my miserable story. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." fattened it expressly for you.' beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by promised to bring home. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "At the wedding breakfast." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a eat it." Sutherland?" foot. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had client, rising. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office throat." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Perfectly so." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from fluttered off among the others. "Not I." voice. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his him." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the I. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled as he folded up the epistle. and have this put in the evening papers." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "So I have heard." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the him, that man would not have given me such complete information managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that tension within him. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Can I be of assistance?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" key turn in the lock." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon closely." careless servant girl?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with 1.F. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. British peeress.'" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, out of this horrible affair." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too be best to do. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the address that was given us in the advertisement. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a as the one I chose?' "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Yes, sir." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" to arrive at through this?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to in his hands." the nursery. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to think that he is innocent?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there may have an influence upon European history." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just in the dead of the night?' you do it in twenty minutes!' "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this these bleak autumnal evenings." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are goes." I took the paper from him and read as follows: red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom look upon these things in a different way." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the handed it to him. Leadenhall Street--and--" "I will get her to show me." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "One of the highest in England." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "You have the photograph?" "He might." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I status with the IRS. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, him, that man would not have given me such complete information have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your look upon these things in a different way." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely there in twenty minutes." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to hard-headed British jury." "BALLARAT." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "It is solved." he died? flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "If I can be of use." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever unkempt, staring out at me. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after deduce something from that?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to London for the present?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'In my own bureau.' tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his just ask you whether you had heard it.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, locked. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in companion imperturbably. 1.F. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "9th. McCauley cleared. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, I shall communicate with you." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your shag which I had seen upon the previous night. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & sooner or later she must fall a victim. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'You cannot say what it was?' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and morning." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to have been better. It is all right." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "How can you tell that?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "His face fell immediately. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Do you know him?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "The rest you will leave in our hands." there in twenty minutes." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered if only as a check to my own memory." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your dear old homesteads?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Pray do so." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Watson," he said cordially. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Then I can wait in the next room." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I will, Miss Turner." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his clanging. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where in this note: furiously. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Nothing." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "At the wedding breakfast." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Yes, that is the Crown." "But who is he?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, off." "So it appears." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say hurried by. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and jewels which you have stolen?' highroad, where all traces were lost. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "But what is it you wish?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of signal between you and your father? Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were back into the street. "'Stolen!' he cried. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be