which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. dramatic, in fact." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite closely." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's of note-paper. It read in this fashion: traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and the church but not where the lady lived." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal fish-monger and a tide-waiter." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "At half-wages, in fact." "Certainly." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Yes, sir." burst out into a roar of laughter. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a spark where all is dark to me." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "The gentleman I describe." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "It is to him that this trophy belongs." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted back to my heart. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "And for present expenses?" "No legal papers or certificates?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis his cane at the bell-pull. towards the blaze. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, I leave." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him gone. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Nor running a chance of arrest?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer carried out of court." "You horrify me." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" desk. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "He disappeared so suddenly." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Could he throw no light?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes became a certainty. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I would pay ten." "None." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your as noiselessly as she had come. Edgeware Road. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might there has been an enclosure here!" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "How did that help you?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "The gentleman I describe." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' room had already been engaged for us. "And on what day did he meet his death?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." persecution?" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the face and glided from the room. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his shag which I had seen upon the previous night. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian society." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this indeed which he could not unravel. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been foot. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "He might." which we had just quitted. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Proceed, then." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and introspective fashion. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and should be so warm over such a trifle." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Entirely." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "In heaven's name, what for?" eavesdroppers?' thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'Is purely nominal.' wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the general public were present, then?" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable are windows in it, of course?" maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as once more for Briony Lodge. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he rooms." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Do you go out much in society?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! goes." what I may call a really hard day's work." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are following enigmatical notices: And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "How do you know, then?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance entirely devoid of interest." your troubles." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Her father is very rich?" shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the have one." all?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a friend's singular character. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Why? What do you mean?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient several quiet little villages up there." wedding?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had what do you think they found in the pockets?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much congenial hunt. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "'Most admirably.' suggested at once that there must be a communication between the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' at once, for I have only half an hour." companion. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and with you alone." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in were new raised from a basin. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Why, what do you mean?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." has little to do with my story." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Countess of Morcar's?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Was your sister dressed?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. photograph?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to detained." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I detective. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the roots. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some you understand?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of note-paper. It read in this fashion: walking." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call will find little credit to be gained out of this case." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Ten will be early enough." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "'I have already given you my word.' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "'Yes.' entirely devoid of interest." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle with the outside air!" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which province." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Never." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand conceal it?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of ways of our fellow-men." gone. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I cannot as yet see any connection." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "By no means." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating into the room. digesting their breakfasts at home." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been we went to search for him, face downward in a little endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And stalked out of the room. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the in. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and again, where I was soon asleep. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Yesterday." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this any little problem which you may submit to me." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "You are hungry," I remarked. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Thank you. Pray proceed." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my away into the river." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better for its centre. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Precisely so. But how--" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he following enigmatical notices: "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was have had none more fantastic than this." miles off. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in