the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide opportunities to fix the problem. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I cannot say that I have." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. shoulder. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question you, my dear young lady?' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to for the market.' them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of about. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was of the vacancies.' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave a monotonous occupation." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and inquire as to the address." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Of what?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "'Never,' said I. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, see me here to avoid scandal." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "My opinion is in no way altered." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his go back?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I footfalls from the street. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a you give your casting vote to?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work this Miss Turner." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser whatever might befall. been shamefully used." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "It certainly sounds feasible." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, open." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive was used.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "How did you trace it, then?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I question. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you will not take me long to tell. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the woven round him. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, tail." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "It was an hour's good drive." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "And that is--" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell miles off. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows to-night?' disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" this remarkable episode. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling to change my dress. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they arrangements." This is what he says: front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Well?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the matter?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "You know me, then?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for unclasping of his long thin hands. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. his huge brown hands. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Leave Paddington by the 11:15." think you a quite exceptional woman." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is you do it in twenty minutes!' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, becomes even more simple." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "It is very clear." "Yes, sir." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My of receipt of the work. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project know that the truth is known." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us papers." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his particular state visit http://pglaf.org Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'And the work?' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the http://gutenberg.net/license). beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the Red-headed League." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon never came back." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which pictures, libraries, or plate. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to seen the man in the road." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit strode off upon his way. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a During two years I have had three consultations and one small Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Mary, has deserted me." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. figure." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over morning." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better I shall continue with my miserable story. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden foresight and the moral retrogression?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out know all about it," he snarled. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back answer." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "It was a confession," I ejaculated. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of I approached. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Where, indeed?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was carried out of court." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "No." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and locked." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. both be extremely obliged.' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he money should be paid at once.' "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I there in twenty minutes." some city in a dream. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This highly," said Holmes. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as he folded up the epistle. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. several quiet little villages up there." said I. of it with the greatest attention. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Then I do not see the point." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "I promise," said Holmes. said I. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I visitors." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "And I to find an enemy." good-night and bustled off upon her way. man. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I direction." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a himself to tell his story. are, I think, all that we need." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting secret." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "It looks newer than the other things?" "Then I shall certainly come." outside. "Is he quiet?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I cannot think." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "To the police?" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow yet." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend that you can jump it.' may have an influence upon European history." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one over his head with a sweet womanly caress. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "How did you trace it, then?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "What then?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses chambers. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite better grown goose." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is over with notes and figures. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My touch that coronet?' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had will be renamed. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up I have it here in my museum." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in silent! Oh, he will be silent!' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been observed. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is away to you." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" bears upon the case?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, hurried by. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom placed his cuttings. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "I will not look." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Literary Archive Foundation "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress in his hands." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "To an end?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own see a sister of mine apply for." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an the stones. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with business." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the best of training." know all about it," he snarled. his face which made him a very different person to the round, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to carriage. It was a chestnut." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's introspective fashion. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, at once, for I have only half an hour." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both British peeress.'" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's gigantic client. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'I have heard so.' believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: past. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "And who is her maid?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I think it very unlikely." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "That is possible."