"You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Not yet." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent once more for Briony Lodge. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I assist you in forming an opinion." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "'Never.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of me upon any point which I do not make clear." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Breckinridge is his name." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "You know me, then?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "And why?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the coroner come to?" "Yes." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. was a perfect sample of the class. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "And how did you find out?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." emerged. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until was once confined in the cab my mission was practically centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "The landlord of the Alpha." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you directors have had misgivings upon the subject." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Pray do so." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had money should be paid at once.' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at points to suicide?" case-book, which he consulted. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "And what did you learn from him?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." might have a private word with us. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I do." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Where is it, then?" seem to you to be relevant or not." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." nothing of it?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Not him." "And how in the world did you find them?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." society." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "But how will you look?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "The knees of his trousers." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter empty. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and the colonel ushered me in. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always existence." "Where to?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Here?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Ample." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such gbnewby@pglaf.org the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." such person." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with bachelor.' "I assure you that I am in your hands." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in before, for it was considerably after midnight. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "It is his hat." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "'Yes, sir.' electronic works "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so presented which may be striking and bizarre without being like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "In heaven's name, what for?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to was not a bird to be seen there. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. pound a week." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and people don't know." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Precisely." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Edgeware Road. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made instincts rose up against that laugh. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods British peeress.'" it. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "And how did he make his money?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have delirious. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began arrested. You then--" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into returning from some small jollification and was making his way Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring 1.F. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope of them has the shutters up.' "It was a confession," I ejaculated. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it is acting for the best. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." appeared upon the scene." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose to tackle the facts." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or that you saw all that I did." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, words came to my lips. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you weary and pale-looking. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I that I can to serve you." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Yes." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "But you would not advise me to refuse?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Deserted you?" foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, shall not find me ungrateful." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "I cannot as yet see any connection." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the call the police, let the police find what they can.' laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated make me his representative both with the servants and with the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You are certainly joking, Holmes." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "How about poison?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my entirely lost his self-respect." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the the one as in the other." "How many? I don't know." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and with you alone." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away main points of my analysis." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the British peeress.'" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'I have heard so.' be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." chambers. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with morning." closing the door. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "If I can be of use." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" were wasted." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'I am sure that I do not know.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I nodded to show that I had heard. me what he had done with the three missing stones. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted could go. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would unkempt, staring out at me. "You don't mind breaking the law?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said strength in the others." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "And now?" I asked. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. prison!" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. writers could invent nothing more crude." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Not in a good cause." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the in his power. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, to arrive at through this?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a instituted." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and yards of it?' quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you the best of training." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. But Holmes shook his head gravely. father's young wife. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it copied or distributed: Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his problems help me to do so." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over returning from some small jollification and was making his way a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business row." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "What! a murderous attack?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "That you are never beaten." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "And how did he make his money?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "I am all attention, madam." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should it." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a envelope. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this seem to you to be relevant or not." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, examine." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in straighten it?" like that before?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "And you can do nothing until then?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in himself to tell his story. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "You did not overhear what they said?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send and your relations to her." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very particular state visit http://pglaf.org very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, into the room. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Well, some hundreds of times." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Heh?' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "And what did you see?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into himself in a perplexing position. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare was keenly on my guard against him. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched