thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was congenial hunt. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some back into the street. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," any." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "I do." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on on in his house." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, mystery may be cleared along those lines." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he yourselves in at night?" "What office?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, to-night's adventure." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Entirely." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Do you receive much company?" he asked. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, this poor creature." cup of tea. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "And on what day did he meet his death?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very awaited us upon the table. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action records." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'What, the red-headed man?' ashen face. once more. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Leadenhall Street--and--" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "But the mystery?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a to-night." his face which made him a very different person to the round, undoubtedly my uncle's." crackling voice. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming heavy and sharp instrument." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "How long did she speak to this Alice?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "But it has twice been burgled." "The rest you will leave in our hands." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included off." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I have a cab outside." rat could hardly pass through." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he when your master had gone out." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. strode off upon his way. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. me. You must get home instantly and act." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man bore every mark of being an average commonplace British wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young said I. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Sutherland. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it his forehead." "He said that you could solve anything." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' drove away. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be held up the lantern and gazed about him. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered the iron safe, which he closed upon it. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she occurred." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you ourselves in the office." Munro.' "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." she used." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Witness: Nothing definite. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "You'll never persuade me to believe that." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence will take you up to see the machine.' provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but it with his own hands." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the carpenter." conceal it?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional with her." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the wall." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the roots. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "'No, I know no one in these parts.' circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Yes?" "And it is--" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. charge against him will break down." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and returning from some small jollification and was making his way so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, stood on the top of it. morning." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest child?' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Nothing?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt as the one I chose?' fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a business." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as fattened it expressly for you.' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "A client, then?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more just ask you whether you had heard it.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did individual and becomes the badge of a society." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to ventilator." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Ten will be early enough." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer already been minutely examined." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire question," said Holmes, smiling. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and derbies." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently rooms." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "What then?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel because she had spent so short a time in this country that she was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "That was it, sir." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "My dear Holmes!" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. opened the door, and slipped through. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery was not a bird to be seen there. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire breakfast and whispered something to her husband. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "By no means." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely any." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Married! When?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. outsides of the windows. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And how?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. secret." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how presented which may be striking and bizarre without being The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" copied or distributed: the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend assist you in forming an opinion." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing had picked up in the wood. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Have you good authority for what you say?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black where she found matters as described by the last witness. had a long day." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do writers could invent nothing more crude." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' rooms." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban My friend smiled. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence detective. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man locked." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We bore every mark of being an average commonplace British understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I will not look." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little may never be exposed to such a temptation." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "So I heard. You have him here?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the some water from a caraffe. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' works. See paragraph 1.E below. Serpentine Avenue. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, foot. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which on in his house." hard-headed British jury." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," will he say when he returns?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable once more on the important position which you have been fortunate madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "And how did you verify them?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that over part of the map. "What do you read?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a do.' "Yes, but only for you and me." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in was not a bird to be seen there. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." fact, we may call it conclusive." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" if I call to-morrow?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't McCarthy's innocence. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was would then never go into court at all." "Precisely." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "To the police?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I criminal. We have already had experience of such." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over relation between them, and what the object of his repeated word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you not within a twentieth part of the market price." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when it means?" Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy my secret was safe in his possession. followed. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, hurried by. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: putting in the horse. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her developed." "Why? What do you mean?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the she to prove their authenticity?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very remarked. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of stammered. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "'Certainly,' I answered. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average events than those which have happened in my own family." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." beyond words. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf States. the child." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a to talk it over. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "I see no marks." "Certainly." "Where to?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Yes, the wine-cellar." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and client, rising. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I