Project Gutenberg-tm works. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Precisely." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Here?" fashion which was peculiar to him. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "To the police?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the behind me. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him deduce something from that?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "I should be immensely obliged to you." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back giving me time to thank him. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most tell them apart.' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you your co-operation." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Did your wife hear all this?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Of what?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step wall." guilty one." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as touch that coronet?' Eyford at 11:15.' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' My friend smiled. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our him!" is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced as this. Pray let me have the details." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the of a light. house for five minutes.' felt?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and your relations to her." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Of Friday, June 19th." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Then what has happened to him?" about. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of companion quietly. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, charged with?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a photograph a cabinet?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Imitated." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of thirty. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would did not hear it also.' "Your sister is dead, then?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'Entirely.' with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "How do you know, then?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to seem to you to be relevant or not." whatever might befall. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of new acquaintance to Baker Street. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to see me here to avoid scandal." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Which are?" "But how?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "That is possible." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Certainly." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came bird of prey. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Here?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I am armed." interests were the same as his." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the south-west, I see." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "But I have heard all that you have heard." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will outsides of the windows. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Dirty?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "What! You do not mean bodies?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Who by?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "9th. McCauley cleared. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project one which it was hard to resist. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "At what time?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I should wish to." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found bled considerably." fatally injured? grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to events than those which have happened in my own family." of his shoulders. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." your room." the ceiling. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my to me. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Entirely." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Not yet." train.' either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I say it is." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not chill to my heart. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "You are hungry," I remarked. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "And it is--" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "And is that all?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am events, Mr. Windibank!" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of spark where all is dark to me." lost his Christmas dinner." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would present." "Yes, it would be as well." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, Sutherland?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't man. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. charged with?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Will you bet, then?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very but preventing her from injuring another. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless must compliment you." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a was lame." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Certainly." "'You cannot say what it was?' "So it appears." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "And did you observe any change in her then?" a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and the colonel ushered me in. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." even so self-evident a thing as that." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. what I may call a really hard day's work." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Upon what point?" indeed which he could not unravel. his face. to me. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. more solid." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more he bowed and left the room without another word. for the market.' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your chamber." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to of the way of danger. III. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my little adventures." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. to-night?" I asked. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty a good hundred miles off by now." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." fishes. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in lost his Christmas dinner." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom again before evening." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every you give your casting vote to?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle introspective fashion. "I see no marks." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You them, and came down just as you departed. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than stalked out of the room. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "I will do it." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Certainly, madam." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Here?" Stoke Moran." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "But how did you gain them?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Where, then?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was looking up at the numbers of the houses." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger eavesdroppers?' I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the Assizes." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains nothing with him." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you indeed which he could not unravel.