showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'Never.' voice. maid will bring up your coffee." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Watson," he said cordially. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert in him." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words existence." the stable lane now." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for 11:15.' your only hope of safety." "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head of fine shops and stately business premises that they really without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, for its centre. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. on in his house." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Then what has happened to him?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "You have it, sir, just as it happened." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "My photograph." within hail.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl like that before?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as writer." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and golden eyeglasses. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. towards the blaze. late!' and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you if she died from some sudden fright." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates words came to my lips. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it charged with?" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Yes." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "It must be recovered." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Nothing?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Nothing?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double remarked. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "How did you trace it, then?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly detective. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's through." "And on what day did he meet his death?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his observed. "What is it?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to felt?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across do.' evidence," I remarked. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Certainly." "I am following you closely," I answered. locked." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "And is that all?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I guessed as much." "It surprised me." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were he bowed and left the room without another word. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and inquire as to the address." fuss that is made over them." in my life." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And the murderer?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know down in his armchair and closing his eyes. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after forehead. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its secret." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the dangers which encompass me." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over key turn in the lock." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their golden eyeglasses. closing the door. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to guilty one." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his absorbing." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless desk. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." charge against him will break down." my former friend and companion. coat-tails." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for to some other building. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from is entirely a question of barometric pressure." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Where does the thing come from?' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, that?' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." placed his cuttings. as he remarks, very much against the son." tail." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but in my life." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I answered that I had not. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. may never be exposed to such a temptation." returning from some small jollification and was making his way WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Yes, he did." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for lamp in his hand. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest know what is wrong with it.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down garden below. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Have you good authority for what you say?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "In the cells." fuss that is made over them." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter You can understand that this register and diary may implicate such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open soul! here is her carriage at the door." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite assist you in forming an opinion." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to from you?" salesman. one of them." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "I have hopes." as he folded up the epistle. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I orange pips. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the client, rising. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "The murder was done with it." was shining brightly. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I should be immensely obliged to you." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "But what will you do?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble crackling voice. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. unprecedented a position." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' is worth.' been anything against him. He had for years been known as a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with everything which you would wish to know." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they you." in a friendly supper." you." know all about it," he snarled. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "How did he come?" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a annoyance, but no jest. you understand?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he occupations.' that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "That is unusual in a young girl." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the copied or distributed: the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said his fortune, and I went back to pa. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "But how?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all I was concerned in it." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good obstinate." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of memory. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Not I." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to seem to you to be relevant or not." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening investigation." whereabouts. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and whereabouts. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I see no marks." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "But how?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the bed, and you in that chair." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "The best possible." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Yes, all." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and said he. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a galvanised. the little opening for the ventilator is." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I have seen the police." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "You forget that I know nothing about it." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Come in!" said he. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be tightly behind him. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was bird of prey. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, trifles." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. upon the white wrist. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my wanted for ourselves." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a brought there to personate someone, and the real person is tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "May I see it?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "It is a murder, then?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words unclasping of his long thin hands. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 placed his cuttings. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable to-night." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Witness: It was. held up the lantern and gazed about him. "One of his hands." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Thank you. And your address?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so individual and becomes the badge of a society." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been him nearly every evening." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the coronet at all injured?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in